SANTA CLARA COUNTY VOTERS UPBEAT ON VALLEY ECONOMY AND GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER, CONCERNED FOR STATE’S DIRECTION OVERALL

NEED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION CITED AS TOP CONCERN IN NEW SILICON VALLEY LEADERSHIP GROUP POLL

Santa Clara County voters are concerned about the direction that California’s economy is taking but have a higher opinion of Silicon Valley’s economy – and the region’s business leaders - according to a new poll conducted by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and released today.

The survey of 800 registered voters, conducted January 10 – 14 by Sacramento-based pollster Jim Moore, is part of the first annual “Silicon Valley Pulse” poll commissioned by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a public policy organization representing 250 Silicon Valley employers.

“As always, Santa Clara County voters prove themselves to be keenly aware, knowledgeable and outspoken about key local and state issues,” said Carl Guardino, CEO of the Leadership Group. “They have strong opinions on such issues as government, education, the economy and the other factors that impact quality of life here.”

Respondents were asked to state their opinion on economic and quality-of-life issues. Among the findings: of those surveyed, 63 percent described California’s economy as moving in the wrong direction and only 28 percent believe it is moving in the right direction. Conversely, a plurality of 46 percent feel that the Silicon Valley economy is moving in a positive direction, as opposed to 42 percent who believe it is moving in the wrong direction.

Survey respondents also weighed in with their views on top public institutions and leaders:

Voters are deeply concerned about their local public schools, with 46 percent expressing a negative view and 36 percent a positive view, and even greater concern about California state government, with an overwhelming 57 percent holding a negative view and only 32 percent a positive view.
Conversely, in spite of the negative view both of California’s economy and California state government, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s popularity is holding firm with a favorable rating of 52 percent against an unfavorable rating of only 35 percent.
Asked about their “local city council,” the results were better, with a favorable view held by 43 percent and an unfavorable view by 29 percent. The county Board of Supervisors garnered a 30 percent favorable rating against an unfavorable rating of 28 percent.
The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) had the strongest numbers of government agencies tested, with 47 percent positive and 30 percent negative.
Support for private sector business leaders remains bullish in Silicon Valley, with a favorable impression of “Silicon Valley business leaders” held by 54 percent of those polled, as opposed to a negative view by just 20 percent.

When asked to rate their two top issues on the basis of personal concern, the survey showed Santa Clara County voters to be very concerned with improving public education (81 percent rating that issue as “very important”), and improving the state and local economy (78 percent rating that issue as “very important”).