Initiative and Referendum
in Colorado
Public Opinion Strategies has extensive experience in polling both for AND against initiatives around the country. In Colorado, we have polled for initiative in small mountain communities to the Denver metro area. Highlights of our recent successful efforts in Colorado include:
Two successful efforts in Summit County in 2001 - a property tax increase for schools of nearly nine mills, and a sales tax increase to benefit the Summit Stage transit system. In the schools initiative, our polling was instrumental in structuring the initiative to not be viewed as too "far-reaching," and helped target the message to focus on "teacher pay" and how the initiative would enhance accountability of the school district.
In addition, we conducted research against a change to the Vail Town Charter, which was defeated by nearly a two-to-one margin.
The Springs Community Investment Program (SCIP 1999) in Colorado Springs, narrowly passed despite strong anti-tax sentiment and an anti-campaign led by Doug Bruce.
The successful Denver Broncos stadium initiative, for which our research accurately predicted that the initiative would receive between 58% and 56% support depending on turnout (it received 57%). Our strategic advice based off extensive regression analyses of our message testing helped produce the television ad featuring John Elway ("keep Denver special") seen in the final days of the campaign to give the initiative the winning edge.
Our poll regarding the "Guide the Ride" tax initiative was the only publicly released poll to show the initiative failing, as reported in the Rocky Mountain News and the Colorado Statesmen.
Weigel has also conducted initiative-related research for the Jefferson County library board, a proposed bond initiative to fund water system improvements in Castle Rock, and for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. She has also been involved in messaging surveys to prevent initiative from being places on the ballot AND to help lay the foundation for a successful campaign in upcoming years for other efforts.
She is currently polling for a host of potential and active initiatives in Colorado in 2002, including:
Recreation center for the Fraser Valley Metropolitan recreation District; School bond efforts for Littleton Public School and St. Vrain Valley School District Open Space in Eagle County Affordable Housing in Summit County Against overturning a development agreement for Durango Mountain Resort Roads and transportation for the City of Loveland Statewide electoral reform for Bighorn Center for Public Policy
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