YourArlington poll results: Your views

The following are the results of all polls conducted on this Web site -- 43 -- beginning with the one most recently concluded. All are unscientific and are limited by the options available. Despite this, they provide a snapshot of community opinion in this way: They aim to show how those responding feel about the question. If you have ideas for future polls, please let the publisher of this site know.

From 7 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: Should Arlington spend its share of education job funds -- however much they turn out to be -- this year or next?

Because a $1.5 million shortfall from fiscal 2010 was discovered and federal money had to be used immediately, the poll ended. Of the 74 votes cast, the results were:

We need to spend them now: 41 (55.4%)

We should wait until next year: 32 (43.2%)

No opinion: 1 (1.4%)

Patrick tops Baker in informal poll, 44%-36%

From Friday, July 23, 2010, at 7 a.m. to Monday, Aug. 9, 2010, at 7 a.m. YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: If the state general election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Aug. 2: Rise in unenrolled dog Democrats

Of the 295 votes cast, here are the results:

Deval Patrick: 129 (43.7%)

Charles Baker: 105 (35.6%)

Timothy Cahill: 23 (7.8%)

None of the above: 23 (7.8%)

Jill Stein: 15 (5.1%)

56% would contribute to Gap campaign

From Sunday, May 9, 2010, at 7 p.m. to Monday, June 7, 2010, at 7 p.m. YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking how much you would contribute to the effort to seek $1 million to close a $3.9 million school budget gap.

Of 315 votes, here are the results:

Nothing: 140 (44.4%)

$500: 69 (21.9%)

$100: 39 (12.4%)

$1,000: 27 (8.6%)

$50: 25 (7.9%)

$25: 9 (2.9%)

$10: 6 (1.9%)

Based on these numbers, the total contributed from these respondents would be $78,185.

51% would vote yes on Pay As You Throw trash collection

From Friday, Saturday, May 1, 2010, at 8 a.m. to Sunday, May 9, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: How should Town Meeting vote on the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) trash-collection measure?

Of 179 votes, here are the results: 

Yes: 92 (51.4%)

No: 87 (48.6%)

Slim majority thinks Donnelly should vote no on casino gambling

From Friday, April 16, 2010, at 11 a.m. to Friday, April 30, at 7 p.m., YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question:

How should Sen. Ken Donnelly vote on casino gambling? It noted that three Arlington House members had voted no.

Of 130 votes, here are the results: 

No: 66 (50.8%)

Yes: 62 (47.7%)

Abstain: 2 (1.5%)

Bosdet, Pierce, Fusaris top online choices

From Friday, March 26, 2010, at 11 a.m. to Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 7 a.m., YourArlington published two unscientific polls asking for whom you expect to vote in the races for the Board of Selectmen as well as the School Committee.

Of 371 votes for the candidates for selectman, here are the results:

 

Nathan Bosdet: 153 (41.2%)

Kevin F. Greeley: 123 (33.2%)

Maria A. Romano: 95 (25.6%) 

Of 240 votes for the candidates for School Committee, here are the results (two seats were open, but you could vote only for one):

Judson L. Pierce: 84 (35%)

Kurt Fusaris: 58 (24.2%)

Kirsi C. Allison-Ampe: 56 (23.3%)

 Teresa Bottoni: 42 (17.5%)

On super finalists, majority chose: 'Start over'

From Thursday, March 18, at 7 a.m. to Wednesday, March 24, at 6:30 a.m., YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: Which of the two finalists for Arlington school superintendent would you choose to lead our public schools, or should the process begin anew?

Of 91 votes, here are the results:

Kelly Clenchy: 19 (20.9%)

Eric Ely: 7 (7.7%)

 Neither -- start the process over: 56 (61.5%)

No opinion: 9 (9.9%)

53% support 3-1 vote on clerk appointment

From Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. to  Thursday, March 4, at noon, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: Do you agree with the three selectmen who voted in favor of naming Selectman John A. Hurd as interim town clerk? Of 317 votes, here are the results:

Yes: 169 (53.3%)

No: 141 (44.5%)

No opinion: 7 (2.2%)

Apart from the number of votes, Google Analytics recorded 1,045 hits on the results link -- by far, the highest number among the 35 polls to date.

For the first few days that the poll was published, opinuion ran 98% against the vote. As the week proceede, the tide turned.

2/3rds would cut recreation, libraries

From 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking what one town service you would cut among six options. Here are the results among 148 voters:

Recreation: 65 (43.9%)

Libraries: 33 (22.3%)

Health Dept.: 19 (12.8%)

Fire Dept.: 13 (8.8%)

Police Dept.: 10 (6.8%)

Dept. of Public Works: 8 (5.4%)

NOTE: The town's Recreation Department is paid for via a self-supporting enterprise fund and is not budgeted out of the general fund or tax base.

49.7% would welcome charter school 

From 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking residents their views should a charter school plan to be established in Arlington. Here are the results among 157 voters:

Welcome the school: 78 (49.7%)

Oppose the school: 63 (40.1%)

No opinion: 15 (9.6%)

Brown beats Coakley by 21 in 3-day poll

In a three-day unscientific poll from 7 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, to 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, YourArlington asked anyone with an Internet connection who they expected to vote for in special election to fill the site left when Sen. Edward Kennedy died last August. Here are the results among 123 voters in Arlington and beyond:

Scott Brown: 70 56.9%

Martha Coakley: 49 39.8%

Joseph L. Kennedy: 4 3.3%

Experience tops poll for new superintendent

From 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking residents to answer this question among seven options: What is the top attribute you want to see in a new school superintendent? Here are the results among 146 voters:

Educational experience (classroom and administration): 46 31.5%

Leadership: 39 26.7%

Skill in working with people: 23 15.8%

Skillfulness in handling finances: 22 15.1%

Creativity: 10 6.8%

Ability to handle controversy: 5 3.4%

Decisiveness: 1 0.7%

Most aim to lose weight

From 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking residents to choose one resolution among seven options. Here are the results among 75 voters:

Lose weight: 33 (44%)

Slow down ("smell the roses"): 11 (14.7%)

Read more; watch TV less: 9 (12%)

Reduce alcohol consumption: 7 (9.3%)

Stop smoking: 5 (6.7%)

Volunteer: 5 (6.7%)

Focus on my family more than my job: 5 (6.7%)