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Legislative Candidate Views
What the Candidates Think About By Dr. Carol L. Ulch and Dr. Robert I. Weinstein A new Illinois Legislature has been elected. Not only is this new legislature smaller in number, but it includes many persons holding office for the first time. In order to understand the perceptions of this new legislative group, the Illinois Association of Park Districts, in cooperation with the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, sponsored a study of legislative candidates.* In this study a number of issues were addressed, including: (1) the various benefits provided by park and recreation services, (2) the effectiveness of park and recreation service provision in relation to the provision of other public services, (3) the importance of park and recreation services and other public services in attracting business and residents to the area; and (4) alternatives to cope with financial problems. Generally, the study found that park and recreation services are perceived very positively by candidates for legislative office. A sample of 193 of the 282 candidates for the Illinois Legislature responded to a telephone survey performed in April, 1982. The respondents were divided equally between Republicans and Democrats. Approximately 60% of the respondents were incumbents. Respondents were drawn uniformly from all areas of the state of Illinois. Nearly 99% of the respondents were rated by interviewers as "candid." The high degree of cooperation provided by respondents as well as the very low refusal rate to participate (less than 10%), suggests that the survey results can be accepted as indicative of the perceptions held by candidates for legislative office in 1982. The study was performed by the Center for Social Research and Community Affairs of Bradley University's Institute for Urban Affairs and Business Research.") 1 Benefits of Park and Recreation Services Although candidates generally perceived park and recreation services to be a very important component of the local public service package, there was substantial variation with regard to specific park and recreation services features. Table 1 summarizes the benefits attributed to the park and recreation services. The table presents the percentage of Democrat, Republican, incumbent, non-incumbent, House, and Senate candidate responses indicating each of the benefits as "very important." Generally, political party, incumbency status, or House or Senate candidacy, does not change the park and recreation services perceived as most important. Those elements receiving the highest importance ratings include recreation opportunities for children and teens, open space for relaxation, recreational opportunities for adults, and opportunities for physical exercise. The elements
*The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments and suggestions provided by Dr. Theodore Flickinger, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, and Mrs. Bonnie Noble, President of the Peoria Pleasure Driveway and Park District.
1 More information regarding this survey can be obtained by contacting Dr. Theodore Flickinger, Executive Director, Illinois Association of Park Districts, 217 E. Monroe St., Springfield,
Illinois 62701.
Table 1 Percent Responding "Very Important"
* Differences are significant at a 95% confidence level or higher. Illinois Parks and Recreation 20 November/December 1982
receiving the lowest importance ratings were contribution to local economy, impact on attracting new businesses and new residents. A number of notable patterns emerged when responses of Democrat versus Republican candidates are considered. First, in all cases Democrat candidates rated park elements to be more important than did Republican candidates. These differences were statistically significant in 6 of the 9 cases. In all cases except two (recreational opportunities for children/teens and recreational opportunities for adults) incumbents provided lower importance ratings in comparison with non-incumbent candidates. The extent of the differences were substantially less than in the Democrat-Republican split with only one of the differences being statistically significant. Non-incumbent candidates systematically saw more importance in the impact of park and recreation services on economic issues including attraction of businesses and residents to the region and general economic impact. No systematic pattern of differences is discernible for House and Senate candidates. House candidates placed relatively greater stress upon the importance of parks and recreation for provision of open space for relaxation and recreation for teens and children. Senate candidates provided significantly higher importance ratings for recreational opportunities provided by parks and recreation in comparison with House candidates. Effectiveness of Park and Recreation Service Provision A total of 96.3% of Legislative candidates perceive that park and recreation services in their districts are effectively provided. Of the 3.7% of candidates that perceived such services to not be effectively provided, the following reasons were cited: (1) insufficient park and recreation facilities, (2) lack of concern for maintenance or safety, and (3) lack of development of land currently owned by the park district. Lack of financing was noted as a weakness of local park and recreation services by 20.5% of candidates. In Table 2 the effectiveness of park and recreation services is compared with that of other public services. The table includes a comparison of the percentage of candidates viewing services to be very effectively provided by candidates in
Table 2 Percent Responding "Very Effective"
* Differences are significant at a 95% confidence level or higher. Illinois Parks and Recreation 21 November/December 1982 each of the following categories: political party, incumbency status, and House and Senate candidacy. In general, park and recreation services, primary and secondary schools, police services, fire services, sewage and sanitation, and public hospitals and clinics are viewed as very effectively provided by the candidates. Airport services, street and highway maintenance, and mass transit were systematically viewed as less effectively provided. The analysis by candidate subgroups shows that these same perceptions are shared by most groups. However, significant differences can be noted in the following cases. Republican candidates rate park and recreation services as somewhat less effectively provided in comparison with Democrat candidates. In all other cases Republican candidates provided higher effectiveness ratings for other public services. The extent of the differences, however, was not found to be statistically significant except in the case of police services and public hospitals and clinics. In both of these cases Republicans provided a statistically higher effectiveness rating in comparison with Democrat candidates. An evaluation of differences between incumbent and non-incumbent candidates shows no statistical differences with two exceptions. Incumbent candidates rated the effectiveness of street and highway provision as the least effective and substantially less effectively provided in comparison with non-incumbent candidates. In the case of services provided by public hospitals and clinics, incumbent candidates gave significantly higher effectiveness ratings in comparison with non-incumbents.
Candidates for the House of Representatives rated parks and recreation's effectiveness substantially higher in comparison with Senate candidates (significant at a 92% confidence level). Park and recreation's services were the third most frequently sited as "very effectively provided." Importance of Park/Recreation Services for State Economic Development Improvement of economic conditions in the state of Illinois is the most important political issue from the perspective of legislative candidates. The key to regional economic health in the long run is the attractiveness of the region from the perspective of households and businesses as a place to reside or locate facilities. Table 3 presents results for each of the major candidate groups with regard to the perceived importance of park and recreation services in relationship to other public services in attracting businesses and residents to locate in the candidate's legislative district. Park and recreation services receive the seventh highest number of legislators ranking the category as an important factor effecting the attractiveness of their district for business or residential location. Only air and mass transit services were given a lower importance rating. Primary and secondary public schools, police and fire services, street and highway maintenance, public clinics and hospitals, and sewage and sanitation were all viewed as more important services from an economic development perspective. For Republican candidates, park and recreation services were the service category second least frequently identified as "very important" in attracting new businesses and residents into their districts. Democrat candidates rate park and recreation services significantly more important in this regard, however these services were still in a tie for next to least important. Although for the most part there was agreement between Republicans and Democrats on relative importance of different services,
Table 3
Percent Responding "Very Important"
*Differences are significant at a 95% confidence level or higher. Illinois Parks and Recreation 22 November/December 1982 very significant differences are found for mass transit with Democratic candidates viewing this service as far more important in terms of economic development impact. Non-incumbent candidates rated parks and recreation services as significantly more important in comparison with incumbent candidates. Generally, non-incumbent candidates provided higher importance ratings for all types of public services. The only exception is primary and secondary schools in which both non-incumbent and incumbent candidates provided the highest importance ratings for attracting new businesses or residents into their districts. No significant differences can be found between House and Senate candidates. Financing Alternatives for Public Services and Facilities Financial problems probably represent the most important practical issue facing park and recreation districts. Increasing demand for high quality services, coupled with greater resistance to increased taxation as a source of revenues for providing services, places park districts, as well as other local governmental jurisdictions, in a very difficult position. Legislative candidates were asked to evaluate the acceptability of eight alternative mechanisms for solving the financial problems of local governmental jurisdictions. These results are summarized for each major candidate group in Table 4. The most popular solution to financial problems, in the perception of legislative candidates, is for local jurisdictions to increase their operating efficiency. A total of 83.1% of candidates view this alternative as very acceptable. At the other extreme, increases in property taxes and reduction in the level of services provided were the most unacceptable solutions for financial problems. Less than 1% of respondents viewed an increase in property taxes as an acceptable alternative, and less than 5% viewed reductions of services to be very acceptable. However, reductions in services were viewed as moderately acceptable by a majority (53%) of candidates, whereas only 15.3% viewed increases in property taxes as moderately acceptable. The use of state aid for operation of local jurisdictions was a moderately acceptable alternative.
The analysis of responses by Democratic as opposed to Republican candidates shows that the most significant differences exists regarding the acceptability of provision of state aid either for operations or for capital acquisition. In both cases Republican candidates gave acceptability ratings that were very low with only 2.2% to 5.7% of Republicans viewing state aid for operation and capital acquisition (respectively) as "very acceptable." Democrats, on the other hand, gave very acceptable ratings for these two sources of financing that were 20.9% and 23.2% respectively. The other statistically significant difference found concerned acceptability of sharing facilities and jurisdictional management. Republicans were significantly more likely to view this solution to financial problems as very acceptable. No statistically significant differences with regard to acceptability of solutions to financial problems are found between incumbent and non-incumbent candidates. Likewise, no significant differences are found between House and Senate candidates. Thus, considerable unanimity of opinion exist among candidates regarding the acceptability of alternative sources of financing. Considerations for the Future As the new Legislature takes office, it will face a number of major problems. The very weak performance of the Illinois State economy, with record levels of unemployment affecting nearly every district will
Table 4
Percent Responding "Very Acceptable"
*Differences are significant at a 95% confidence level or higher. Illinois Parks and Recreation 23 November/December 1982 have substantial effects on state as well as local fiscal conditions. Declining incomes and sales tax revenue as well as the movement as businesses and households out of the state will result in declining revenue sources. The ability to maintain balanced jurisdictional budgets and high quality services will represent a major challenge. In addition, the shift of responsibility of many Federal programs to state and local governments will place increasing demands on local taxpayers to provide additional revenues to support such programs. The results of the survey clearly indicate that Legislators do not view the traditional solution to local revenue generation (imposition of property taxes) to be an acceptable solution. It seems almost certain that this view is shared by their constituents. How will park and recreation districts be affected by these conditions? Clearly there will be substantial competition for state support for all local jurisdictional programs. Unfortunately, parks and recreation services are not viewed as highly important in terms of their impact on the quality of the economic conditions in the state. Programs and services more directly tied to improving local and state conditions are likely to receive a higher share of support. Ironically, the very high effectiveness identified for park and recreation service provision may reduce the chances of obtaining expanded state and local support. As the availability of funds to finance services declines there is often a tendency to focus funding on those areas perceived to be inadequate. Districts providing services that are viewed as adequate and effectively provided, will have to demonstrate that significant deterioration in the quality of services will result if funding levels are not maintained. Continued emphasis must be placed on informing legislators as well as district residents of the quality, importance, and availability of parks and recreation services. Increasing use of available services is critical to insuring that the value of these activities will be recognized. Although amenities including park and recreational opportunities have been noted as important factors in business relocation decisions, this view is clearly not shared to a very strong extent by legislative candidates. Efforts should be undertaken to improve understanding by legislators as well as district residents of the positive economic impacts provided by park and recreation services. IPR
Illinois Parks and Recreation 24 November/December 1982 |
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