Dec. 29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gail Philbin gail@jonathanforillinois.com 616-558-6490

Poll Shows Jonathan Goldman Leads in 10th District State Representative Race After Voters Hear His Message

Endorsed by Leading Progressive Elected Officials

Chicago, Ill. -- A recent poll of 10th District voters found that after they learned about state representative candidate Jonathan Goldman and the record of incumbent Annazette Collins, Goldman led the field of six candidates, with 19 percent saying they would vote for him in the Feb. 2 Democratic primary.

Collins and two other challengers, Eddie Winters and Joseph Sneed, came in second in the telephone poll conducted Dec. 22, with a three-way tie at eight percent of the vote. Keith Muhammad captured six percent, and Mable Taylor had one percent. Undecided voters accounted for 51 percent of the vote.

“This poll confirms what we’ve known all along, that voters want change when they learn that Representative Collins has been the least effective state representative in Illinois for the past nine years, and that her voting record runs counter to the values of the 10th District,” said Goldman, a long-time public interest advocate who is running for office for the first time. “The voters also understand that I am the best candidate to deliver that change.”

In an initial matchup, Collins had led the field with 18 percent, and Goldman was second with seven percent. Sixty percent were undecided, and the other candidates received between two and six percent of the vote. However, the poll found that Collins generally was not well known or well regarded, despite being an incumbent who has been in office for nine years.

Goldman also announced that he has been endorsed by State Representative John Fritchey and Alderman Roberto Maldonado. Rep. Fritchey and Ald. Maldonado also serve as Democratic Committeemen of the 32nd and 26th Wards, both of which are part of the 10th District.

“I am very pleased that independent, progressive political leaders recognize that I can bring change to the 10th District,” said Goldman. “Representative Fritchey and Alderman Maldonado have been leaders for political reform, the environment, education, public health, senior citizens and other key issues, and I welcome their support.”

The poll asked likely voters about name recognition, with the leading candidates registering similar levels of voter awareness: Collins was known by 62 percent of respondents, Goldman by 50 percent, and Winters by 49 percent.

Collins was regarded favorably by 21 percent and unfavorably by 14 percent of those asked. Goldman was viewed favorably by 13 percent and unfavorably by 11 percent, while Winters’ had a favorable rating of 11 percent and unfavorable of 14 percent.

The poll also found that as voters learned more about the candidates, Goldman gained support while Collins’ support dropped. Of those who originally said they would vote for Collins, an astonishing 70 percent changed their minds when asked a second time for whom they would vote.

The respondents were more likely to support Goldman after hearing that he has been a public interest advocate for the past 20 years (49% more likely), as well as a school reform leader and current Local School Council (LSC) Chair who has been elected five times to LSCs (44% more likely).

Voters were far less likely to support Collins after learning that she voted to end the property tax freeze causing skyrocketing tax bills (55% less likely), passed fewer bills in her 9 years than any other state representative (63% less likely), and that she voted against key gun control legislation while touting a proposal to teach kids to shoot guns in schools (65% less likely).

The poll surveyed 546 likely Democratic voters in the 10th Representative District. It was conducted on December 22, 2009 by We Ask America. The margin of error was +/- 4.37%. A copy of the full poll is attached.

The 10th District is one of the most diverse in Illinois, including Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Noble Square, Ukrainian Village, West Loop, Humboldt Park, Near West Side and Garfield Park. For more information, visit www.jonathanforillinois.com, or call 888-633-2010.

Click here to download a PDF of this release.

Click here to view the poll results.

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