Distributed September 24, 2002
For Immediate Release

News Service Contact: Mark Nickel



Taubman public opinion survey

Voters favor Cicilline as mayor; minorities feel they have too little power

A survey of 688 Providence voters conducted Sept. 14–22, 2002, finds a big margin for David Cicilline over his general election rivals. Minorities feel they have too little political power in Providence.


PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Democratic mayoral candidate David Cicilline holds a substantial lead over his general election opponents, according to a survey conducted by researchers at Brown University. The poll also inquired about people’s views on minority relations, discrimination and political power in Providence. Both African-American and Latino voters say they have too little political power in the capital city.

The survey was conducted Sept. 14–22, 2002, at Brown University by Darrell M. West, director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy and the John Hazen White Sr. Public Opinion Laboratory, and Marion Orr, associate professor of political science, urban studies and public policy. It is based on a citywide random sample of 688 residents. The poll was designed to measure candidate support in the general election and people’s views about minority relations in Providence. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish, depending on whether there were non-English speakers in the household. Overall, the poll had a margin of error of about plus or minus four percentage points.

In the race for mayor, 70 percent of the 506 likely general election voters say they plan to vote for Democrat Cicilline, 4 percent say they plan to vote for Republican Dave Talan, 2 percent favor Green party candidate Greg Gerritt, 1 percent support independent Christopher Young, and 23 percent are undecided. Cicilline’s support is strong across racial lines. While 71 percent of whites say they favor him, he also draws support from 83 percent of African-Americans and 81 percent of Latino and Hispanic voters.

With Providence becoming a city that has a majority of minority residents, according to the U.S. Census, the survey asked a range of questions involving minority relations, especially between whites, African Americans and Latinos. Both African-American and Latino residents feel they have too little political power in Providence. Seventy-seven percent of African Americans feel they have too little power, while 57 percent of Latinos feel that way. Nine percent of whites feel that whites have too little political power in Providence.

Overall, 42 percent feel that opportunities for minorities are getting better, while 25 percent feel opportunities are staying the same, 13 percent believe they are getting worse, and 20 percent are undecided. However, minorities themselves are less optimistic. Among African-Americans, 36 percent say minority opportunities are getting better, while among Latinos, 42 percent feel opportunities are getting better. Forty-eight percent of whites feel minority opportunities are improving.

Twenty-three percent of whites believe that minorities face a lot of discrimination in Providence. However, 45 percent of African-Americans report minorities encounter a lot of discrimination and 39 percent of Latinos say minorities face a lot of discrimination.

There are differing views about electoral cooperation between African Americans and Latinos to elect particular candidates. Sixty-two percent of African Americans feel there should be a lot of cooperation, 59 percent of Latinos feel that way, and 39 percent of whites believe there should be a lot of electoral cooperation.

On issues such as affirmative action and bilingual education, there are substantial differences by group. For example on affirmative action, 46 percent of whites favor affirmative action efforts to hire minority employees compared to 68 percent of African Americans and 80 percent of Latinos. Eighty-nine percent of Latinos think Providence public schools should offer bilingual education for those who do not speak English, compared to 57 percent of whites and 76 percent of African Americans.

In looking at age, education and income by group, Latinos are the youngest and poorest within the city and have the lowest educational attainment. For example, while 15 percent of white households make less than $20,000 a year, 34 percent of Latinos and 23 percent of African-Americans earn less than $20,000. Latinos also are the group having the highest percentage of first-generation families. Twenty-three percent of Latinos say their family has lived in the United States for only one generation, compared to 8 percent of African-Americans and 7 percent of whites.

Acting Mayor John Lombardi’s performance is rated excellent or good by 26 percent, while 18 percent say it is only fair, 5 percent rate it poor, and 51 percent are undecided.

The survey was completed in conjunction with the Taubman Center’s Thomas J. Anton/Frederick Lippitt conference, The Future of Providence, to be held Sept. 26-27. Mayor Martin O’Malley of Baltimore will deliver the keynote address at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept, 26, in Sayles Hall on The College Green. A panel of experts will discuss urban issues at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 27, in Sayles Hall. At noon Friday, also in Sayles Hall, there will be a mayoral debate featuring Cicilline, Gerritt, Talan and Young. All conference events are free and open to the public.

For more information, see the report at www.InsidePolitics.org or contact Darrell M. West at (401) 863-1163 or Marion Orr at (401) 863-9436.

Survey Questions and Responses

Note: Responses for the following items are shown for the overall sample and for whether the respondent was white, African-American, or Latino or Hispanic. The mayoral general election question is based on likely voters only.

(506 likely voters only) If the election for mayor of Providence were held today, would you vote for: 1) Democrat David Cicilline 2) Green party Greg Gerritt, 3) Republican Dave Talan, or 4) independent Christopher Young 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Cicilline70%71%83%81%
Gerritt2270
Talan4400
Young1100
Undecided23221019

How would you rate the job John Lombardi is doing as mayor of Providence? 1) excellent 2) good 3) only fair 4) poor 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Excellent5%6%5%4%
Good21212729
Only Fair18162826
Poor5725
Undecided51503836

Do you think that African-Americans in Providence have: 1) too little, 2) the right amount, or 3) too much political power? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Too Little45%42%77%51%
Right Amount23281125
Too Much6626
Undecided26241018

Do you think that Latinos in Providence have: 1) too little, 2) the right amount, or 3) too much political power? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Too Little38%38%44%57%
Right Amount30313425
Too Much98149
Undecided232389

Do you think that whites in Providence have: 1) too little, 2) the right amount, or 3) too much political power? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Too Little7%9%6%3%
Right Amount33352736
Too Much40405850
Undecided2016911

Are the opportunities for minorities in Providence: 1) getting worse 2) staying the same or 3) getting better? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Getting Worse13%12%21%16%
Staying Same25253534
Getting Better42483642
Undecided201588

In thinking about your local community, do you believe that minorities are: 1) easy or 2) hard to get along with? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Easy63%71%64%61%
Hard15142225
Undecided22151414

How much discrimination do minority populations face in Providence: 1) only a little 2) some or 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Only A Little18%21%12%17%
Some37433739
A Lot27234539
Undecided181365

How would you feel about having a close relative or family member marry a minority? 1) not favorable 2) somewhat favorable 3) very favorable? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Not Favorable8%10%0%5%
Somewhat Favorable27313022
Very Favorable48496164
Undecided171099

At election time, how much cooperation do you think there should be between African-Americans and Latinos to elect particular candidates? 1) a little 2) some or 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
A Little10%14%5%3%
Some28322433
A Lot42396259
Undecided201595

How much cooperation do you think there should be between African-Americans and Latinos to achieve public policy objectives? 1) a little 2) some 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
A Little9%14%0%3%
Some26302428
A Lot47456760
Undecided181199

How much cooperation do you think there should be between African-Americans and Latinos to get government jobs for their members? 1) a little 2) some 3) a lot? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
A Little11%16%3%4%
Some24282426
A Lot44426863
Undecided211457

We would like to know something about the feelings you have toward various groups. Have minorities in Providence ever made you feel angry? 1) rarely 2) sometimes or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Rarely45%52%38%49%
Sometimes31334934
Often88610
Undecided16777

Have whites in Providence ever made you feel angry? 1) rarely 2) sometimes or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Rarely31%34%25%38%
Sometimes41465137
Often13141818
Undecided15667

Have minorities in Providence ever made you feel afraid? 1) rarely 2) sometimes or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Rarely52%57%54%62%
Sometimes26313221
Often65611
Undecided16786

Have whites in Providence ever made you feel afraid? 1) rarely 2) sometimes or 3) often? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Rarely57%60%68%69%
Sometimes24292221
Often3405
Undecided167105

The Providence school superintendent recently left to take a job in another city. Do you think the next superintendent of Providence public schools should be: 1) white 2) African-American or 3) Latino? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
White7%7%10%6%
African-American65212
Latino52218
Undecided82866774

Do you think the city of Providence should use affirmative action efforts to hire minority employees? 1) yes 2) no 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Yes49%46%68%80%
No30441610
Undecided21101610

Do you think Providence public schools should offer bilingual education for those who do not speak English? 1) yes 2) no 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Yes59%57%76%89%
No27391910
Undecided14451

Do you think the government should offer Spanish-language election ballots for Latinos who do not speak English? 1) yes 2) no 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Yes58%60%76%84%
No28382414
Undecided14202

Would you characterize your overall political beliefs as: 1) liberal 2) moderate or 3) conservative? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Liberal30%36%26%33%
Moderate33403727
Conservative17162726
Undecided2081014

Regardless of how you vote, do you usually consider yourself a: 1) Democrat 2) Independent 3) Republican, or 4) something else? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Dem44%47%65%52%
Ind26351818
Rep6824
Something Else77811
Undecided173715

Which of the following age group are you in? 1) 18-24 2) 25-34 3) 35-44 4) 45-54 5) 55-64 6) 65 or older 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
18-2415%12%27%31%
25-3417171428
35-4418182424
45-541722169
55-6491262
65+121783
Undecided12253

Including yourself, how many generations has your family lived in the United States? 1) first generation 2) second 3) third 4) fourth 5) fifth or more 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
First Generation10%7%8%23%
Second1213822
Third23282324
Fourth1218610
Fifth or More27324716
Undecided16285

What is the latest grade of school you completed: 1) some high school or less 2) high school graduate 3) some college 4) college graduate 5) post-graduate work 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
Some HS11%8%18%25%
HS Grad21212932
Some College20243120
College Grad19231715
Post-Grad162456
Undecided13002

Does your annual household income fall within: 1) $0-20,000 2) $20,001-40,000 3) $40,001-60,000 4) $60,001-80,000 5) 80,001-100,000 or 6) over $100,000? 8) don’t know 9) no answer
OverallWhiteAfrican AmericanLatino/Hispanic
$0-20,00017%15%23%34%
$20,001-40,00025253635
$40,001-60,0001519138
$60,001-80,00081064
$80,001-100,0004603
$100,000+71120
Undecided24142016

######