BLOG: Yes on Measure I Campaign Releases Public Opinion Survey Results

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The Yes on Measure I campaign, in response to requests from the press, today released results from a public opinion survey conducted late 2012 that shows Davis voters are highly aware of the upcoming ballot measure and support it strongly. 

“While this poll was conducted solely for the purposes of planning our campaign, we are happy to release the key results to the press and to the public,” said Alan Pryor, co-chair of the Yes on Measure I Committee.

“The survey confirms even stronger support than we expected, with 70 percent in favor of the Measure as printed on the ballot. Davis voters have followed the issue closely, understand it well, and a strong majority support the unanimous decision of our City Council to move forward with Woodland on this important project.

“Our committee is appreciative of Senator Lois Wolk’s effort to initiate the survey and to help fund it, along with the Davis Chamber PAC and the California Alliance for Jobs, a coalition of business and labor that supports infrastructure investment in California,” concluded Pryor.

“While the poll results are encouraging, we plan to carry out a complete and thorough grassroots campaign to make sure all Davis voters understand the measure fully and return their ballots in the mail by March 5th,” added Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza. “We aren’t taking anything for granted.”

“The results are certainly encouraging, but not surprising” said Senator Wolk. “I am hearing in the community an unprecedented consensus, including business and environmental leaders, liberals and conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, and independents, that we in Davis can indeed work together to make the long-term investment for a cleaner and safer water supply. This is a smart and cost-effective plan that will serve our community for decades to come.

“We have for the first time in decades a city council that is working well together, without acrimony, to hammer out the compromises that make for responsible problem solving governance. It is a sharp contrast to what we see coming out of Congress recently and often, regrettably, our own Legislature.

“I have worked on water issues for over 20 years and this is the most important decision Davis voters have ever been asked to make about our water supply. I will continue to help the Measure I campaign in any way I can,” concluded Wolk.

The survey was conducted December 27-31 by the polling firm of Moore Methods of Sacramento. It surveyed 300 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7%.

Memo from pollster:

J. Moore Methods, Inc.
Public Opinion Research
1127 Eleventh Street, Suite 1050
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-2727
Fax (916) 444-6457

January 7, 2013

TO: Interested partiesFR: Jim Moore, JMM ResearchRE: City of Davis Measure I
For the purpose of evaluating the City of Davis water plan advisory vote (Measure I), we interviewed 300 likely mail ballot special election voters between December 27th and 31st.

The findings were:

1. Measure I will most likely pass in the range of 65-75%;

2. Existing beliefs and attitudes help explain this prediction:

• 85% of Davis voters have heard of this water plan issue. From what they’ve read or heard, 63% of voters say they support the City’s water plan with 11% opposed.

• When the official Measure I ballot language is read, 70 % of voters support and 12% oppose Measure I. Support is 75% among democrats; 60% among Republicans and 67% of independents.

• Improving local water supplies is a top priority (90%) issue;

• 63% of residents think City of Davis water quality is fair or poor. 89% of residents either purchase bottled water or have filters or softeners for their drinking water.

From the survey:

What is your opinion of the water quality which the City of Davis provides to its residents - excellent, good, fair or poor ?

EXCELLENT. .......... 8
GOOD. ............... 29
FAIR. ............... 39
POOR. ............... 24
NO OPINION. ....... 0

To supply drinking water in your household, do you .... ? (READ CHOICES)

purchase bottled water. ........ 34
have a water softener. ......... 33
or have a water filter. ........... 45
OTHER. ....................... 4
NONE. ........................ 11

In recent years, the issue of building a new water supply facility for Davis has been discussed by the City Council. Are you familiar with this issue ?

YES/FAMILIAR. ............ 85
NO/NOT FAMILIAR. ......... 15

The Davis City Council recently approved a long-term plan to improve City water supplies. From what you've heard of this plan, do you support or oppose it ?

SUPPORT. ............ 63
OPPOSE. ............. 11
NO OPINION. ....... 26

There will be a mail ballot election starting in February of next year. The measure is called Measure I. The official ballot question for Measure I reads as follows:

Shall Ordinance No. 2399 be adopted, which grants permission to the City of Davis to proceed with the Davis Woodland Water Supply Project, to provide surface water as an additional supply of water, subject to the adoption of water rates in accordance with Proposition 218 in the California Constitution ?

After hearing this ballot language, would you likely support or oppose Measure I ?

SUPPORT. ............ 70
OPPOSE. ............. 12
NO OPINION. ....... 18