Richmond City Poll
CNU Center for Public Policy
Richmond Voters Mixed on Wilder's Leadership of City
News Release - February 28, 2008
Media Contacts:
Dr. Quentin Kidd
Director – CNU Center for Public Policy
qkidd@cnu.edu
Office: (757) 594-7971 - Mobile: (757) 320-3980
Emily L. Lucier
Press Secretary and Media Manager
emily.lucier@cnu.edu
(757) 594-8428
(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) - Richmond voters are mixed on L. Douglas Wilders’ leadership of the city and the way he has tried to implement the new strong mayor form of government, with 47% agreeing with the way he has attempted to define and put it into place and 47% disagreeing with the way he has attempted to define and put it into place. Slight majorities think that compared to the past Richmond under Wilder offers positive hope for a better life to Richmond citizens (58% to 34%), think that Wilder is building an economic foundation for the future (55% to 32%), and think the city is better run (52% to 39%). However, voters are uncertain whether Richmond has made progress on improving relations with surrounding counties (41% to 40%). These findings are from a Richmond City Poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University. The poll was conducted February 14-17, 2008 with 350 registered voters in Richmond. The margin of error is +/- 5.3% at the 95% confidence level. The poll was conducted in order to assess Richmond voter’s views as we near the end of the first term under the new strong mayor form of government.
"Do you AGREE or DISAGREE with the way Richmond Mayor Wilder has attempted to define and put into place the new strong mayor form of government?" |
|
|
Agree |
47 |
Disagree |
47 |
DK/Refused |
6 |
"And how would you evaluate the overall political leadership of Richmond city government - |
(cells=%, numbers may not equal 100% due to rounding) |
|
Continue as is |
20 |
Change/move in a new direction |
72 |
DK/Refused |
8 |
As you may know, Richmond is coming to the end of the first term under its new strong mayor form of government.
Would you say that compared to the past, Richmond under Mayor Wilder ...
Offers positive hope for a better life to all its citizens? |
Yes |
58 |
No |
34 |
Don't Know |
7 |
Is building an economic foundation for the future? |
Yes |
55 |
No |
32 |
Don't Know |
12 |
Is a better run city? |
Yes |
52 |
No |
39 |
Don't Know |
9 |
Has made progress in regional cooperation by improving relationships with surrounding counties? |
Yes |
41 |
No |
40 |
Don't Know |
19 |
Survey Methodology
The Richmond City Poll is provided as a public service to the citizens of Virginia. It is an omnibus public opinion survey of registered Richmond voters conducted by telephone from February 14-17, 2008. Results for the full sample have a margin of error of plus or minus 5.3% at the 95% confidence level. This means for the full sample we can be 95% confident that the error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 5.3%. In addition to sampling error, the other potential sources of error include non-response, question wording, and interviewer error. Where percentages for subgroups are reported, the margin of error would be higher. Numbers may not equal 100% due to rounding. The poll was designed by the Center for Public Policy at CNU and conducted for CNU by FrederickPolls, LLC of Arlington, Virginia. For information or requests, contact Dr. Quentin Kidd, at (757) 594-7971 or qkidd@cnu.edu.
Christopher Newport University is a four-year public university in Newport News, Virginia. CNU enrolls 4,800 students in programs through its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Joseph W. Luter III College of Business and Leadership and offers great teaching, small classes and an emphasis on leadership, civic engagement and honor.
Visit us at www.cnu.edu.