Thumbs Down for State Government's Business Strategy;

Thumbs Up for Genomics in Arizona

Community and business leaders in Maricopa County are dissatisfied with the overall effort of the state government in Arizona to attract new businesses to the state, according to a recent O'Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll. Valley leaders strongly approve, however, of Arizona's attempts to convince the International Genomics Consortium [IGC] to locate here.

By an almost two-to-one margin, influentials in the Valley are displeased with the state government's attempts to lure businesses to Arizona. A combined 64% are either very dissatisfied (18%) or dissatisfied (46%), while only 36% are very satisfied (2%) or satisfied (34%). Said poll director Dr. Michael O'Neil, "It seems these days that people disapprove of just about anything done by the state government. Over the past couple of years, Arizonans have become fed up with what they perceive as conspicuous examples of rampant mismanagement."

Continued Dr. O'Neil, "Business leaders are obviously highly attuned to the state's strategy for bolstering the business climate in Arizona. It makes this failing grade for the state government all the more serious that it is given by the people who are likely to be most informed about the issue."

Open Arms for IGC

In contrast to their overall dissatisfaction with the state's business strategy, community leaders overwhelmingly approve of the $75 million effort to bring the IGC to Arizona. Three-quarter's (73%) feel the effort has been appropriate, while equally small proportions think it has been excessive (15%) or inadequate (12%).

"The biotech industry holds an immense potential, but is also immensely difficult to understand for most people," said Dr. O'Neil. "Business leaders, however, are more likely to grasp the nature of this up-and coming economic sector. According to Dr. O'Neil, "The explanation for the apparent discrepancy between the overall disapproval of the state government's business efforts and the strong support for the IGC must be sought in three factors: first, business leaders clearly hope to land the IGC in Arizona; second, when people are asked a rather general question about the state government, their general discontent is likely to shine through; and third, the attempt to attract the IGC is not purely a state government effort, making it considerably less likely to be met with disapproval." (Foundations, universities, and local governments are also involved).

Split Along Ideology and Party Lines

Dissatisfaction with the overall business effort of the state government is much stronger among self-identified liberals (36% "very dissatisfied") and Democrats (25%) than among conservatives (9%) and Republicans (13%). Furthermore, as regards the IGC incentives, liberals (62% "appropriate") and Democrats (68%) are slightly less supportive than conservatives (75%) and Republicans (78%). "Perhaps it would seem more self-incriminating for conservatives and Republicans to be blaming the state leadership, since they are more likely to have helped elect that leadership in the first place," said Dr. O'Neil, adding that the slightly stronger embrace among Republicans/conservatives of the IGC effort is indicative of the customary business-friendly attitudes of economic conservatives.

Organizational Differences

Finally, members of the four participating organizations of business and community leaders differed slightly in their responses to the two questions. The members of Greater Phoenix Leadership [GPL] are most dissatisfied (22% "very dissatisfied") with the state government's business strategy, while East Valley Partnership [EVP] members complain the least (10%). GPL members, however, responded most positively to the IGC effort (87% "adequate), while EVP members were least satisfied (69% "adequate"-more EVP members, however, found the effort inadequate than excessive). Members of Valley Leadership and Westmarc occupy the middle ground on both questions.

(Note: All percentages are calculated without "Don't Know" responses, constituting 7% of all responses).

About the Poll. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll is a web-based survey that was sent to all members of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Valley Leadership, East Valley Partnership, and Westmarc. As such, this survey does not purport to be a random or representative sampling of the general population of the Phoenix metropolitan area. It would be difficult, however, to conceive of a more comprehensive representation from which to draw inferences about the opinions and sensibilities of business and community leaders than the combined membership of these organizations, although, inevitably, any definition of influentials is somewhat subjective. The persons surveyed are likely to exert disproportionate influence on and be an early indicator of community opinion by virtue of their position, community involvement, and political participation. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll was not sponsored or paid for by any outside organization. Four hundred eight participants completed the survey between June 13 and June 24, 2002, yielding a margin of error of ±4.5%. O’Neil Associates, Inc. is a Tempe-based public opinion research firm specializing in client-focused attitude and awareness studies for a wide variety of industries and organizations.

FOR RELEASE FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2002, 12 NOON (VIP008-2002-01)

FURTHER INFORMATION: Michael O'Neil, Ph.D., 480-967-4441

These results may be reported freely provided that they are identified as the “O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll” including identification on any graphic material.

O’Neil Associates has tracked public opinion across the Valley, Arizona, and the Nation since 1981. To be healthy, public debate must be informed—this is why we commit our resources to measuring opinions on the political and social issues people care about and talk about. O’Neil Associates, however, is much more than that. While the Valley Influentials Poll and Valley Monitor may be our most publicly visible activities, we do most of our work for private businesses and organizations as well as state and other public agencies. As a full-service research firm, we assist our clients with a broad range of research efforts to measure customer satisfaction, improve customer service, fine-tune public images, focus marketing campaigns, engineer products, increase market shares, strengthen employee relations, and plan, refine, and assess business strategies.

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