From Deseret News archives:
S.L. Council in danger?
Political observers divided on implications of new poll
A new poll for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV shows only 30 percent of Salt Lake City residents favor re-electing their City Council representative while 39 percent want to give someone new a chance. Another 31 percent didn't know. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 7 percent.
That same poll of 230 city residents, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, also showed similar disenchantment with Mayor Rocky Anderson only 36 percent of city residents want the mayor re-elected.
Local political observers are divided on what the numbers might mean, especially for the council.
Some say the data show city residents are fed up with certain City Council members and want some change. They say city politics are returning to times past when voters were quick to oust incumbents, instead of keeping them around. Throughout the 1990s incumbent council members were often dismissed, but in more recent years city voters have been happy to keep the status quo.
Two years ago, for instance, three incumbent City Council members and Anderson all won re-election with ease.
The poll's demographic data, however, coupled with poll data from the past, show there may be some teeth to the dissension.
For instance, a larger number of Republicans said they wanted their City Council member re-elected while a majority of Democrats want their council person ousted.
Of those polled who said they were Republicans, 45 percent said they wanted to keep their current council member while 28 percent said they want someone new. Among Democrats, only 20 percent said they wanted to keep their council representative while 52 percent said they wanted someone else.
That data might concern a pair of incumbent Republican council members who are representing highly Democratic districts. Carlton Christensen in District 1 and Eric Jergensen in District 3 face challenges from several relatively unknown candidates who are proud to note their Democratic affiliation even if council races are officially nonpartisan.
Comments
- Nine Mile may get designation 9:14 p.m.
- 3 Idaho cities target pornography 9:13 p.m.
- MWC expand? Get rid of deadweight 9:10 p.m.
- Suns edge Raptors 9:07 p.m.
- Davis' key 3-pointer lifts Clippers 9:05 p.m.
- Terrorism trials in N.Y.? 9:03 p.m.
- Illinois officials eager to sell prison 9:03 p.m.
- Patriots lead Colts 24-14 at halftime 9:03 p.m.
- RSL surprised by Chicago's Fire 9:01 p.m.
- NHL roundup: Panthers tame Wild 8:46 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
363 - BYU happy to escape with victory
228 - TCU creams U.
221 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
204 - Will state consider gay rights law?
149 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
133 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
131 - RSL heads to MLS title game
124 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Mark, are you talking to me? I don't live in Utah anymore, and I'm 100%...
I have it on good word that BYU didn't prep AT ALL for this game. Bronco and...
I have some Utah football tickets available if anyone is interested. Also,...
The final score makes the Utes look better than they actually were. Too bad...
If we could play TCU again this week we'd beat them. We were the better team,...
Hey don't worry about the big blowout loss yoot fans. SDSU is next and...
I love this team! Way to go yo's. THis is so amazing. Utah needs some pub...
Gee, what an idea. Look at how sanctions brought the Cubans to their knees....
Bennett is hardly a career politician. On the contrary, he has built...
Nice try but anybody who has watched Alta know it's the 2007 team that was...

You can be the first to comment on this story.