KAET-ASU Poll

CONTACT:
Dr. Bruce Merrill (480) 965-7051

EMBARGOED UNTIL WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24, 2001

KAET POLL

MARICOPA COUNTY RESIDENTS FAVOR WEST SIDE STADIUM;

STRONGER CONTROL OF DRIVERS OVER 75 SUPPORTED;

COUNTY OFFICIALS ARPAIO AND ROMLEY RECEIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE RATINGS

A random telephone poll of 511 registered voters living in Maricopa County shows that a majority, fifty-one percent, favor building the new sports arena authorized by Proposition 302 on the west side of the Valley. Fourteen percent (14%) preferred downtown Phoenix, 9 percent favored the site on the border of Tempe and Mesa, 6 percent opted for downtown Tempe, and 4 percent were for the Fort McDowell Reservation site. Sixteen percent (16%) said they had no opinion. The poll was conducted by KAET-TV and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University between January 18-21, 2001.

According to Dr. Bruce Merrill, the poll director, "Registered voters in Maricopa County favor the West Valley site followed by fairly even support for downtown Phoenix and the site on the Tempe/Mesa border. Unfortunately, our sample was not large enough to generalize how people living in various parts of the Valley felt about where the stadium should be built."

The survey showed that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Rick Romley receive high marks for their performance in office. Eighty-eight percent of all registered voters, with an opinion, rated Romley excellent (16%) or good (72%). Eighty-three percent (83%) of all registered voters, with an opinion, gave Arpaio an excellent (44%) or good (39%) rating.

The survey also found strong support for requiring drivers over 75 years of age to be tested every two years in order to renew their drivers licenses. Interestingly, 64 percent of those over 60 years of age were in favor of testing.

The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 4.3 percent when the proportion answering a question is 50 percent and assuming the 95 percent of significance. The sample was 50 percent male and 50 percent female. Forty-nine percent (49%) of those interviewed were registered as Republicans, 37 percent Democrats and 14 percent as something other than Republican or Democrat.

Q. As you know, voters in Maricopa County approved funds to build a new multi-purpose stadium where the Arizona Cardinals will play. Five sites are being considered. They are (rotate and read each site): Where do you think the stadium should be built?

Q. How would you rate the job Rick Romley is doing as Maricopa County Attorney?

Q.How would you rate the job Joe Arpaio is doing as Maricopa County Sheriff?

Q. The legislature is considering passing a law which would require drivers 75 years of age or older to have a vision and road test every two years in order to renew their drivers licenses. Would you favor or oppose this legislation?