Vision2 has mixed support in Oklahoma Poll

BY BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Sunday, November 04, 2012
11/04/12 at 7:23 AM

Vision2's quality-of-life Proposition 2 appears to be headed to victory in Tuesday's election, while the fate of Proposition 1 with its airport industrial complex upgrades and deal-closing fund is uncertain, a new Tulsa World poll shows.

An Oklahoma Poll of 440 likely voters, conducted Oct. 25 to Nov. 1, indicates Proposition 2 will pass with 58 percent support, compared with 31 percent against and 11 percent undecided.

Proposition 1 has 45 percent support, with 38 percent against and 17 percent undecided. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.67 percentage points.

SoonerPoll.com's Bill Shapard said it's almost impossible to determine how undecided voters will break on issue propositions rather than living-and-breathing candidates.

"When a proposition doesn't poll a majority, there's much greater uncertainty over its outcome," he said.

Meanwhile, Proposition 2's success at the ballot box, given its numbers, looks to be a certainty, Shapard said. It would fund projects such as low-water dams and zoo and library improvements, among many others.

"One seems to me to be just about the airport, but the other is more about the entire community," said Tulsan Shawn Stevens, a poll participant explaining why he's voting against Proposition 1 and in favor of Proposition 2.

Gladys McGraw of Tulsa said she'd vote for both parts of Vision2.

"I'm older - in my 80s - so I probably won't get to enjoy much of it, but I have to consider my grandkids and what will be good for them," she said. "A lot of these projects will make Tulsa a better place to live."

McGraw said she thinks it's also important for residents to do what they can to protect the jobs with airport industrial complex tenants like American Airlines by upgrading the city-owned facilities.

"It took my son over a year to find a job after losing one," she said. "If we can keep our jobs, in any way we can, it'd be nice."

Broken Arrow resident Lois Graham said she'll vote against both propositions.

Vision2 is touted as an extension of the Tulsa County Vision 2025 sales tax, which doesn't expire until the start of 2017.

"It's too soon to be thinking about this," she said. "I know you need to plan ahead to some degree, but this far in advance will not do us any good.

"We don't know what we're going to be needing that far down the road."

Lawrence Killgore of Broken Arrow said he supports Proposition 1 but doesn't back Proposition 2.

"I've worked in aircraft, and we need these jobs," he said. "Other cities are stepping up and doing deals like this to get work, and if that's the way Tulsa needs to go, I'll vote for it."

Killgore, however, doesn't like the quality-of-life portion specifically because it contains $10 million to renovate downtown Tulsa's Central Library.

"Our property taxes already pay for that," he said. "We shouldn't be asked for more money for the libraries."

Killgore was in the minority among poll participants, who overwhelmingly favored the library improvements.

The poll showed the Central Library project has 63 percent support, with 27 percent against and 10 percent uncertain.

The Tulsa Zoo upgrades polled a bit higher, with 65 percent in support, 27 percent against and 8 percent uncertain.

The low-water dams to put water in the Arkansas River, the most sizable quality-of-life project, has 55 percent support, with 32 percent against and 13 percent uncertain.

Those are all grouped together in Proposition 2.

In Proposition 1, the deal-closing fund to lure new industries to the Tulsa area has more support than the airport industrial complex allotments it is paired with.

The fund has 57 percent support, with 31 percent against and 12 percent undecided.

The upgrading of industrial buildings at the airport has 45 percent support, with 39 percent against and 16 percent uncertain, while buying equipment for the complex breaks down the same.

Owasso resident Wayne Lawhorn, an American Airlines retiree and poll participant, said he'll vote against Proposition 1.

Tax money shouldn't go to help the company's maintenance operation until it starts treating employees better, he said.

"There's a lot that needs to be done to those buildings, which belong to the city, but I don't think they should be rewarded by the taxpayers putting a lot of money into the place," Lawhorn said.

"It used to be a good place to work with a decent wage and benefits that you could raise a family on. The management of American Airlines has destroyed that by totally disregarding the employees."

Lawhorn said he also will vote against Proposition 2 because he believes the low-water dams would lead to flooding.

"Some of the projects they want to do are pretty legit, but they need to be broken up so people can decide on them separately," he said.

Broken Arrow resident Nancy Brian is a supporter of all of Vision2.

"To me, it seems like a good sharing of resources (between Tulsa County and its municipalities)," she said.

It's also important to protect aviation jobs, Brian said.

"We've invested a lot in American Airlines, and it has invested a lot in Tulsa. The strength of that relationship is something that keeps American here. We need to keep that going."

About the Oklahoma Poll

A poll of 440 likely voters was conducted by SoonerPoll.com, using a random digit dialing technique that included both cell phone and landline telephone numbers.

Interviewers collected the data Oct. 25-Nov. 1. Results were weighted by gender and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both). The poll was sponsored by the Tulsa World.

The margin of error is plus or minus 4.67 percentage points. This poll conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. A complete description of the methodology can be found at tulsaworld.com/soonerpoll.

Voting

Monday: In-person absentee voting will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Tulsa County Election Board, 555 N. Denver Ave.

Tuesday: Voting at regular precincts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vision 2

Proposition 1: Would fund improvements and equipment at the airport industrial park and a closing fund.

For.............................................45%
Against.....................................38%
Don't know/refused ...............17%

Proposition 2: Would fund low-water dams on the Arkansas River, zoo and library projects, higher education, medical improvements and other quality-of-life items.

For.............................................58%
Against......................................31%
Don't know/refused ...............11%

(Numbers have been rounded)

Original Print Headline: Poll shows varying support for Vision2

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com