MAYOR POLL

 

Hello, I’m ___ , and a student at Skidmore College.  We are talking with citizens of Saratoga Springs today about Tuesday’s City Council election.  I would like to ask you a few questions on a confidential basis as part of a class project.  I want to assure you that this poll is being completed for research purposes only and that all responses given will remain strictly confidential.

 

0-- Voter ID #  

 

A.  Enter 1 since it is the MAYOR Poll

1

 

B.  As you know last Tuesday was election day in Saratoga Springs.  Many people we have spoken to did not happen to vote.  How about you?  Did you happen to vote in this year’s election or were you unable, like many others, to make it to the polls?

 

1.  YES (CONTINUE to QUESTION C)

0  NO (then go to Question AH, very last question)

 

C.  Now, generally speaking, would you say that things in Saratoga Springs are going in the right direction, or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?

 

1.  Right Direction

2.  Wrong Track

 

D.  Which ONE of the following issues was MOST important to you in deciding how to vote in the City Council elections? Was it …(RANDOMIZE)

 

E.  Then Ask:  And which issue was the NEXT most important to you in deciding how to vote in the City Council Elections?

 

1. Taxes

2. Preserving Open Space

3  New drinking water source

4  Civility in city government

5  a new Police Station                                    

6  Pace of Development

7  Other

 

F.  In the election for MAYOR, for whom did you vote?

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same, Don’t give Party)

1  Valerie Keehn (Democrat)

2  Scott Johnson  (Republican)

3  Gordon Boyd (Independent)

4.  Refused (do not read)

 

G. In the election for Commissioner of Public Works, for whom did you vote

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same)

1  Tommy McTygue (Democrat)

2  Skip Scirroco (Republican)

3.  Refused (do not read)

 

H.  In the election for Commissioner of Public Safety, for whom did you vote

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same)

1.  Ron Kim (Democrat)

2.  Richard Wirth

3.  Refused (do not read)

 

I.  In the election for Commissioner of Finance, for whom did you vote

(ROTATE FIRST TWO NAMES- keep #s same)

1.  Jane Weihe (Democrat)  (pronounced WHY)

2.  Ken Ivins (Republican)

3.  Refused (do not read)

 

J.  Now, some people decide early in a campaign how they will vote.  Others make their decisions just before the election .  When would you say you made your FINAL decision on which candidates you were going to vote for in the election. (rotate top to bottom, bottom to top)

 

1.  The day of the election

2. During the last few days before the election

3. During October

4.  During September

5.  Before September

6.  don’t know/not sure (do not read)

7.  refused (do not read)

 

Now I am going to read you a list of things that people may have considered in casting their vote for Mayor this year.  Regardless of how you may have voted, I would like you to tell me which candidate running for MAYOR you believe would do the best job dealing with each specific issue I read you:

 

1.  Valerie Keehn  2.  Scott Johnson  3.  Gordon Boyd.  4.  Equal  5.  None.  (DON’T READ 6-9, BUT ENTER THE ANSWERS IF GIVEN) 6. Keehn and Johnson, not Boyd, 7.  Keehn and Boyd, but not Johnson.  8.  Johnson and Boyd, but not Keehn.  9. DK

 

K.  Promoting fiscal responsibility

L.  Controlling the pace of development

M.  Restoring civility to city government

 

In terms of personal characteristics, which candidate for MAYOR do you believe would:

 

N    Provide an independent voice

O.   Be a Strong Leader

P.    Be able to work with others

  

Did you receive any direct mail from any of the candidates for Mayor? 

Let them provide answers

Can answer more than one

Q.  1 Mail from Keehn, 0 if none

R.  1 Mail from Johnson, 0 if none

S.  1 Mail from Boyd, 0 none

 

Did you see any television commercials for any of the candidates for Mayor? 

Let them provide answers

T.  1.  TV for Keehn, 0 if none

U.  1.  TV for Johnson, 0 if none

V.  1.  TV for Boyd, 0 if none

 

Did you personally meet any of the candidates for mayor?

Let them provide answers

W.  1.  Met Keehn, 0 if none

X.   1.  Met Johnson, 0 if none

Y.  1.  Met Boyd, 0 if none

 

Now I have just a few more questions for statistical purposes only.

 

Z.  In what year were you born

__  __  __  __

 

AA.  And what was the last grade you completed in school.  (DO NOT READ CATEGORIES)

 

1.  some high school

2.  graduated high school

3.  Technical or vocational school

4.  some college

5.  gradated college

7.  graduate/professional school

8.  refused do not read

 

AB.  How long have you lived in Saratoga Springs?

______ in years  (i.e. 20)

 

AC.  An in politics today, do you consider yourself … (ROTATE)

a Republican

A Democrat

Or something else

 

If Republican or Democrat, Ask, would you call yourself a strong Republican/Democrat or a Not so strong Republican/Democrat? 

If something else, ask, Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or the Democratic Party.

 

1.  Strong Republican

2.  No so strong Republican

3.  Lean to Republican

4.  Something else--

5.  Lean to Democrat

6.  No so strong Democrat

7.  Strong Democrat

 

AD.  And in politics today, do you consider yourself … (ROTATE)

1.  Conservative

2.  Moderate

3.  Liberal

 

AE.  Did you work for any of the candidates’ campaigns in this election?

0  No

1  Yes

 

AF.  GENDER –  don’t ask

0 if male

1 if female

 

AG Precinct #  -- from the form. 

 

ONLY ASK THIS QUESTIONS IF THEY DIDN’T VOTE

AH.  Which of the following best explains why you didn’t vote? (ROTATE)

1.  Too busy

2.  Not registered

3.  didn’t have enough information

4.  vote doesn’t matter

5.  didn’t like the candidates

6.  other (don’t provide)

 

Thank you for your time.