KAET-ASU Poll

FOR RELEASE:
Wednesday, December 1, 1999

A poll of 577 registered voters living in Maricopa County conducted by KAET-TV and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University during the period of November 18-20, 1999 found that both of Maricopa County’s two chief law enforcement officers receive high marks for the job they are doing. Eighty-five percent (85%) of those who felt they knew Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley well enough to rate the job he was doing, gave him excellent (11%) or good (74%) marks. Seventeen percent (17%) of all registered voters were not able to evaluate the job he was doing.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio also received high marks for the job he is doing as Maricopa County Sheriff. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of those who knew him (only 4% did not know him) gave him excellent (21%) or good (58%) marks.

According to Dr. Bruce Merrill who conducted the poll, "Rick Romley has consistently improved his image with voters over the past three or four years. His recent emphasis on jailing slum lords and prosecuting people accused of child abuse or worse is well received by the public. Recent controversies associated with Joe Arpaio have done little to tarnish his standing with voters. People may not like some of the things he does, but they do like his ‘say-it-like-it is’ manner. He is well liked by people who are frustrated with crime and feel we need a tougher approach."

The poll also found that the County Board of Supervisors is perceived as doing a good job. Two-thirds (67%) of all registered voters in the county said the board was doing an excellent (4%) or good (63%) job. According to Dr. Merrill, "Most voters in Maricopa County seem to feel things are going in a positive direction so there is no major discontent with the board. Since people don’t know many of the supervisors by name, people tend to give the board good ratings when times are good and bad ratings when things are not going well."

Voters also were asked which of four things the county’s two top law enforcement officers should emphasize. Of the options offered, reducing juvenile crime (39%) and doing something about disbanding gangs (34%) were the most important amongst voters with an opinion. Enforcing drug laws and doing something about slum blight were mentioned by 20% and 7% of the voters polled.

The survey of 577 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.0%. Forty-eight percent (48%) were Republicans, 37% Democrats, and 15% "others". Fifty-two percent (52%) of the sample was male, 48% female.

Q1. Overall, would you rate the job Rick Romley is doing as Maricopa County Attorney as excellent, good, poor, or very poor?

Q2. Overall, would you rate the job Joe Arpaio is doing as Maricopa County Sheriff as excellent, good, poor, or very poor?

Q3. Overall, would you rate the job the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is doing as excellent, good, poor, or very poor?

Q4. Which of the following do you feel Maricopa County’s top law enforcement officers should have as their highest priority? (rotate order asked)

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