If you’re still undecided about those 12 propositions on the General Election ballot on Tuesday, November 2nd, watch this one-hour KUAT Channel 6 video with Christopher Conover interviewing Tucson Weekly senior writer Jim Nintzel, including selected videos from KUAT reporters on Prop. 107, 113, 203, 302, and 400.

Propositions 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 203, 301, 302 are state-wide, while 400 and 401 are from the City of Tucson.

http://ondemand.azpm.org/videoshorts/watch/2010/10/27/1642-election-2010-the-propositions/

In a quick review of the City of Tucson booklet’s “The Choice is Yours” statements regarding Proposition 400 & 401, here’s a list of the people/groups supporting and opposing these two props:

– In favor of Prop. 400 (proposed increase in City sales tax by .5%):
Jeff Rogers, Chairman & Martin Bacal, Corresponding Secretary for Pima County Democratic Party

–Against Prop. 400
Kent Solberg, LD 27 House candidate (Green party)
John Kromko

____

– In favor of Prop. 401 (huge increases in Mayor/Council salaries, more power for Mayor & City Manager, & other Charter changes):

Peter Likins, President Emeritus of UA

Laura Penny

Lea Marquez Peterson, President & Bill Holmes, Past President of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

David J. Cohen, Treasurer, “Tucson Charter Change Coalition for Prop. 401″

Trent Humphries, Organizer of Tucson Tea Party

Jeff Rogers, Paul Eckerstrom, & Curtis Dutiel

Michael Guymon, Executive Director & Steve King, President of Metropolitan Pima Alliance

–Against Prop. 401:

Steve Leal, Susan Willis, John S. O’Dowd, Brian Flagg, & James Hannley, Treasurer, “Protect Local Control: No on Prop 401″

My previous blog on 400:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2010/08/10/core-tax-town-hall-regarding-proposed-city-of-tucson-sales-tax-increase-on-august-11/

My previous blog on 401:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2010/09/03/committees-for-and-against-proposition-401-mayorcouncil-salary-increases-and-other-city-charter-changes/

Secretary of State’s information on the propositions (click here).

League of Women Voter’s guide on the state-wide propositions (click here).

Vote wisely on November 2nd, as the choice is indeed yours.

Michelle Cardwell, an Arizona native & a master’s degree student at the London School of Economics, surveyed Arizona Tea Party members and wrote a report of her findings in August of this year and she has given me permission to inform our readers about her results. The survey took place between April 13 and June 14 of 2010, with 1093 respondents (from all over the state) answering several questions. Here are excerpts from her report and the full conclusions.

The first question inquired as to “when the respondent had first learned about the Tea Party. Most respondents had been aware of the movement for some time; 74.6% of respondents had learned about it over a year ago and another 22.0% had heard of it within the last year.”

The second question focused upon “how respondents first learned about the Tea Party movement.” The answers were radio (43.2%), TV (37.4%), and online news sources (23.3%).

“In question three respondents were asked “whether they supported, were against or had no preference for a stated position. The results of this question showed very strong agreement among respondents over six issues. These positions centered on small government, limited government expenditures, universal health care, lowering taxes, cap and trade tax on carbon emissions and easing immigration restrictions.”

Question four then sought “to establish which of these political issues from question three ranked the most important to Tea Party members.” The top three issues were government size (76.0%), fiscal restraint (56.9%), and immigration (54.6%).

Question five inquired “whether there were issues that individuals involved in the Arizona Tea Party movement felt should not be addressed by the movement. The majority (73.5%) felt that there were not any issues that the movement should avoid.”

Question six was about the level of government the Tea Party should focus on, with 67.7 % picking the federal government.

Question seven inquired about “more general, abstract themes of political involvement.” For example respondents were asked to rate statements such as “The existing political parties fail to adequately represent the American public”, with results of 60.5% strongly agreeing, and 28.6% agreeing.

Question eight asked about the internet to keep members involved, with 73.8% saying it was very important. Question nine asked about the “importance of public rallies & protests”, with 72.9% finding them very important.

Question ten inquired about political involvement, with 99.3 % being registered to vote, 98.8% saying that they had voted before, and 80.5% had contacted their representatives in the past.

“Question eleven asked respondents what the Tea Party should do in the future. Most respondents (57.7%) felt that in the future the Tea Party should be an independent association without candidates for election. The next most popular option was integrating with the Republican Party (18.1%), and the least popular option was integrating with the Democratic Party (0.1%).”

Conclusions of this survey:

The results of this survey gave a rich image of the emerging Arizona Tea Party
movement. The respondents showed that individuals involved in the Arizona Tea Party movement have been aware of it since the early days of the movement. These individuals mostly earned about the movement through traditional media sources, although after becoming involved, most respondents found the internet to be an important means of staying informed. Individuals involved in the movement showed strong agreement over political issues, especially those ranked as top three most important issues by respondents: small government, fiscal restraint and immigration. A majority of respondents felt the federal government deserved most of the Tea Party’s attention and that the Tea Party should not avoid any political issues.

Respondents strongly identified with the movement; 81.1% described themselves as passionate about the movement and 86.5% felt that the existing political parties could not represent them as well politically as the Tea Party movement. Although a majority agreed that politicians fail to take public opinion into account, respondents still felt strongly about the impact of their political participation, as 71.1% disagreed with the idea that they could do little to influence political outcomes. Respondents also showed strong political involvement both before and after joining the Tea Party movement. Almost all were registered to vote and almost all had voted prior to becoming involved. Strong majorities of respondents had also contacted their representatives in the past and donated money to campaigns. The areas that saw the greatest rise in political involvement among respondents after joining the movement were attending protests and rallies, as well as volunteering for campaigns. In total, these findings illustrate the Arizona Tea Party to be a cohesive and dedicated movement. While still too early to analyze their overall successes to date, the November 2010 elections will no doubt illustrate the impact of their growing influence in Arizona politics.

Demographics of the respondents: 97.8% currently registered to vote (74.2% Republican, 23.8% Independent, 2% Democrat); 55.5% male, 43.6 % female; 18.6% aged between 30 – 49 years, 44% aged between 50-64, 32.3% aged over 65 years. As for race/ethnicity, the question about this was “removed from the data set due to a low response rate, as well as out of respect for respondents whose comments indicated discomfort with the question.” And there was apparently no question about religious membership, if any.

Michelle is an Arizona native from Peoria, who graduated from the ASU West with a BS in Political Science and a BA in American Studies. She will graduate in December from the London School of Economics and Political Science with a Masters of Science in Public Policy and Administration.

For more information about her survey and seven page report, contact Michelle at michelle.cardwell at gmail.com

Readers: any comments on this survey? Does this sound like members of the Tucson Tea Party?

“The Junior Statesmen mission is to strengthen American democracy by educating and preparing high school students for life-long involvement and responsible leadership in a democratic society.”

The local Sonoran Desert Chapter Conference of the Arizona Junior State of America (JSAZ) was held today at the Joel D. Valdez Main library downtown from 10:15 to 4:30 p.m. The event was mostly organized by 14 year old Conference Director Caleb Rhodes (home schooled). Welcome remarks were made by their elected JSAZ Governor Theo Jones (also home schooled) and their Program Director Karen Prosser.

Local political candidates for the November 2010 election who were invited to speak today were Ruth McClung (R), CD 7 U.S. House candidate; Rodney Glassman (D), U.S. Senate candidate; 3 candidates from LD 27 House of Representatives – Sally Ann Gonzales (D), Robert Compton (R) and Kent Solberg (G); LD 29 House candidate Pat Kilburn (R); and David Nolan (L), U.S. Senate candidate & founder of the Libertarian Party.

So a cross- section of candidates from four different parties were represented today to indicate to these high schoolers the range of political party viewpoints in Tucson. The Constitution Party, Tucson Tea Party, ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), and both Jan Brewer for Governor and Terry Goddard for Governor campaigns were also included in the lunchtime Political Fair.

Their afternoon Thought Talks were entitled” Should the U.S. Implement a National I.D. Card? (moderated by Theo Jones), followed by “Laissez-Faire or Socialism, what is the role of government in the economy?” (moderated by Ashlen Smith)

In the student-run Junior State, and at The Junior Statesmen Summer Schools and summer Symposia, participants learn statesmanship as they engage in political discourse. They cultivate democratic leadership skills, challenge one another to think critically, advocate their own opinions, develop respect for opposing views, and learn to rise above self-interest to promote the public good.” (all quoted statements from their website, www.jsa.org)

Local chapters of Junior State of America exist at 3 private high schools in Tucson: Salpointe Catholic High School, St. Gregory’s College Prep School, and River of Life Christian School, plus for those home schooled.

They are planning a JSAZ Fall State Convention for 2 days (October 30-31) at the Phoenix Hilton Suites Hotel (10 East Thomas Road) for interested high school students & teachers. Cost is $60 per person which includes one night at the hotel, guest speakers, debates, “provocative thought talks”, Halloween Dance & prizes for best costume. Register online at www.jsa.org. For more info call Karen Prosser at 1-800-334-5353 (Junior State West Headquarters in San Mateo, CA).

“Since 1934, the nonprofit Junior Statesmen Foundation (JSF) and the Junior State of America (JSA) have helped over 500,000 student leaders acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be active, informed and responsible citizens, voters and statesmen. (They) are committed to developing a diverse cross section of young leaders throughout the entire country.”

This sounds like a wonderful opportunity for high schoolers to become active leaders in politics, civics, learn about how government works at all levels, meet actual candidates & politicians, debate current issues, etc. Reminds me of the “debate clubs” we used to have back in high school.

JSA is non-profit and non-partisan, so tell your high schoolers about it today, or their American Government teachers to start up a chapter, if your high school doesn’t have one. And attend that Fall State Convention in Phoenix.