GARIN-HART-YANG RESEARCH GROUP

January 2015

Study #11489--page 1
Philadelphia Mayor Survey

1724 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20009
(202) 234-5570

Interviews: 601 voters

Dates: January 23-26, 2015

FINAL

43 Male
57 Female

Study #11489
Philadelphia Mayor Survey
January 2015
Please note: all results are shown as percentages unless otherwise stated.

1a.

First, does anyone in this household work for a radio station, a television station, a newspaper, an
advertising agency, a market research firm, or as an active political campaign worker?
No ....................................................
Yes...................................................
Not sure .........................................

1b.

CONTINUE
TERMINATE

100
-

CONTINUE
TERMINATE

Are you currently registered to vote at this address?

Registered ......................................
Not registered.................................
Not sure........................................

1c.

100
-

Are you registered to vote as a Democrat, a Republican, or something else?

RegisteredDemocrat ...................
RegisteredRepublican ................
Registeredsomething else ..........
Not sure ........................................

1d.

70
13
11
6

Thinking back on the different LOCAL elections in which you have been eligible to vote, such as
Philadelphia mayor or City Council, would you say that you have voted in ALL of these elections, most of
them, about half of them, or fewer than half of these elections?
Voted in ALL .....................................
Voted in most ....................................
Voted in about half ...........................
Voted in fewer than half ....................
Not sure ..........................................

56
33
11
-

CONTINUE
TERMINATE

GARIN-HART-YANG RESEARCH GROUP

January 2015

2.

All in all, do you think things in Philadelphia are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that
things are off on the wrong track?

Right direction .............................

Wrong track ................................
Not sure ....................................

3.

Study #11489--page 2
Philadelphia Mayor Survey

1/15
45
40
15

Now thinking of the future, do you think Philadelphia will be better or worse as a place to live five years from
now?

Better ..............................................
Worse .............................................
Same/depends (VOL) ...................
Not sure ........................................

4.

75
11
14

Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Philadelphia City Council is doing its job?
Approve ...........................................
Disapprove ......................................
Not sure .........................................

6.

57
21
12
10

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Ramsey is handling his job as Philadelphia police
commissioner?
Approve ...........................................
Disapprove ......................................
Not sure .........................................

5.

10/07
26
58
16

41
43
16

Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Nutter is handling his job as mayor?
Approve ...........................................
Disapprove ......................................
Not sure .........................................

57
36
7

(Q.7 AND Q.8 ARE ROTATED.)

7.

Thinking back to how John Street handled the job when he served as mayor, do you think that Michael
Nutter represents a change for the better, a change for the worse, or does not represent much of a change
either way?

Change for the better .......................

Change for the worse .......................
Not much of a change either way .....
Not sure ..........................................

8.

52
10
31
7

Thinking back to how Ed Rendell handled the job when he served as mayor, do you think that Michael
Nutter represents a change for the better, a change for the worse, or does not represent much of a change
either way?

Change for the better .......................

Change for the worse .......................
Not much of a change either way .....
Not sure ..........................................

22
22
47
9

GARIN-HART-YANG RESEARCH GROUP

January 2015

9.

Study #11489--page 3
Philadelphia Mayor Survey

Now I'm going to read you some qualities that people might look for in a mayor and for each one, I would like
your opinion of whether that quality describes Michael Nutter. When it comes to (READ ITEM) do you feel
that this quality pretty much describes Michael Nutter, or do you feel that this quality does not really describe
him?
THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE WHO SAY PRETTY MUCH DESCRIBES MICHAEL NUTTER

Being independent-minded and not afraid to speak

his mind .................................................................................
Being sincere and doing what he thinks is right .....................
Being a reformer who is committed to reducing
the corruption in city government ..........................................
Being a strong and decisive leader .......................................
Being someone who understands the needs and priorities of
people like you ......................................................................

10.

Pretty Much
Describes
Michael
Nutter

Does NOT
Describe
Michael
Nutter

In Between/
Some Of
Both (VOL)

Not
Sure

71
66

22
25

4
3

3
6

53
51

36
39

4
5

7
5

50

39

Now let me read you a few statements that people might make about Mayor Nutter. For each one, please
tell me whether you agree or disagree.
THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE WHO AGREE

While he may not be a typical glad-handing politician, Michael Nutter cares about
Philadelphia and works hard every day to improve the city and help its people .......
Michael Nutter deserves SOME credit for Philadelphia's improvements in
population and job growth at the same time that homicides and violent crime are
at record low levels ...................................................................................................
Despite inheriting a fiscal crisis made worse by the recession, Michael Nutter has
provided the steady leadership to move Philadelphia forward and make progress
in key areas such as employment and public safety. ...............................................
Michael Nutter has brought back honesty and competence to city government by
focusing on integrity and ending the pay-to-play culture in City Hall. .......................

Agree

Disagree

Not
Sure

70

26

68

27

60

34

52

38

10

GARIN-HART-YANG RESEARCH GROUP

January 2015

11.

Study #11489--page 4
Philadelphia Mayor Survey

Now let me read you some POSITIVE information about the way things are going in Philadelphia these
days. For each one, please tell me how important this information is to you personally--very important, fairly
important, just somewhat important, or not important at all.
THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE WHO SAY VERY IMPORTANT

There has been a significant drop in the murder and violent crime
rates since 2007, and they actually are at their lowest levels since
1971 ...............................................................................................
The city has increased its investments to the public schools by
nearly four hundred million dollars, with the result that high school
graduation rates have improved significantly .................................
The city has cracked down on corruption and made government
more transparent, with data from twenty-nine agencies made fully
available to the public .....................................................................
The city has attracted a range of new companies to relocate and
it has seen existing companies expand their business operations,
with more than one hundred thirty real estate projects worth eight
billion dollars either completed or under construction ....................
The city has gained nearly sixty thousand residents since 2007,
the first time since the 1950s the city is growing ............................

Very
Important

Fairly
Important

Just
Somewhat
Important

Not
Important
At All

Not
Sure

79

66

12

61

12

17

57

12

18

49

14

21

12

FACTUALS: Now I am going to ask you a few questions for statistical purposes only.
F1.

Regardless of how you may be registered, how would you describe your overall point of view in terms of the
political parties? Would you say that you are mostly Democratic, leaning Democratic, completely
independent, leaning Republican, or mostly Republican?
Mostly Democratic ............................
Leaning Democratic ..........................
Completely independent ...................
Leaning Republican ..........................
Mostly Republican .............................
Not sure ..........................................

F2.

53
12
15
6
7
7

What is the last grade that you completed in school?

Grade school ....................................................................
Some high school.............................................................
High school graduate .......................................................
Some college, no degree .................................................
Vocational training/2-year college ....................................
4-year college/bachelor's degree .....................................
Some postgraduate work, no degree ...............................
2 or 3 years' postgraduate work/master's degree.............
Doctoral/law degree .........................................................
Not sure/refused.............................................................

5
31
16
7
19
2
13
3
4

GARIN-HART-YANG RESEARCH GROUP

January 2015

F3.

For statistical purposes only, how old are you? (IF REFUSED, ASK:) Well, would you tell me which age
group you belong to?
18-24 ................................................
25-29 ...............................................
30-34 ................................................
35-39 ...............................................
40-44 ...............................................
45-49 ...............................................
50-54 ...............................................
55-59 ...............................................
60-64 ...............................................
65-69 ...............................................
70-74 ...............................................
75 and over ......................................
Refused .........................................

F4.

6
7
8
9
8
8
8
12
9
8
5
10
2

And again for statistical purposes only, would you please tell me whether you are from a Hispanic or
Spanish-speaking background?
Yes, Hispanic ...................................
No, not Hispanic ...............................
Not sure/refused ............................

F5.

Study #11489--page 5
Philadelphia Mayor Survey

5
94
1

And to ensure that we have a representative sample, what is your race--white, black or African American,
Asian, or something else?
White ................................................
Black/African American ...................
Asian ...............................................
Other ...............................................
Hispanic (VOL) ...............................
Not sure/refused .............................

48
42
2
4
2
2