Poll Archive
This page presents the results of all reader polls taken by RappVoice from fall 2006 through 2008. For each poll question, the responses are presented, with the numbers representing the number of responders choosing that answer to the question.
| 12/26/08 Top story of 2008: What’s your pick for the top story in Rappahannock in 2008? | |
| New Sheriff Connie Smith fires election-rival Chief Deputy, Chris Williams | 13 |
| Board of Supervisors approves restoration of historic Scrabble School | 3 |
| Real estate market slumps, prices soften, in county | 1 |
| Supervisors approve night-game lighting for school athletic fields | 16 |
| Business closings and foreclosures: Flint Hill Public House, Blue Rock Inn, Sperryville Antique Market, etc. | 25 |
| Paper cuts: Reporters quit, editor leaves, space cut in Rappahannock News | 2 |
| State regulators approve power line through Rappahannock | 6 |
| Supervisors trim School Board budget by $250,000 | 8 |
| Bill Fletcher proposes, then withdraws, plans for F.T. Valley events center | 8 |
| Town of Washington stirs revolt with costly sewer plans | 3 |
| 11/19/08 Polluted rivers? What’s your view of Rappahannock stream pollution and what to do about it? | |
| County streams and rivers are cleaner than they used to be, and don’t require any cleanup effort. | 26 |
| Streams are polluted and farmers should be required to keep cattle out of them. | 37 |
| Streams are polluted, but it’s due more to humans, wildlife and pets. | 6 |
| Some streams may be polluted but we should not risk driving farming out of Rappahannock. | 30 |
| 11/5/08 What kind of ‘change’ do you expect a President Obama to bring to the years ahead? | |
| He will be a centrist president, reaching out to Republicans and independents, with a middle-of-the-road program. | 60 |
| He will be very liberal, like his Senate voting record, clearly turning left with help from unions, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid other liberals. | 111 |
| He will zig and zag left and right, depending on the polls and pressures of the moment. | 14 |
| It doesn’t matter, I am for him no matter what he does. | 11 |
| It doesn’t matter, I am against him no matter what he does. | 31 |
| 9/22/08 Financial Fears: What’s your reaction to the ongoing credit crisis, Wall Street turmoil, and Federal bailout plans? | |
| I fear it’s all leading to an economic collapse like the Great Depression | 88 |
| I think it points to a recession in 2009, but not a Depression | 70 |
| I think the government’s actions will stabilize the economy soon. | 15 |
| It really doesn’t affect me, so I don’t care. | 4 |
| 9/2/08 Is Palin a plus? How will John McCain’s choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as VP affect your willingness to vote for the Republic ticket in November? | |
| Palin doesn’t matter: She makes no difference in my vote for president. | 33 |
| Palin hurts: She makes me less likely to vote for McCain. | 26 |
| Palin helps: She makes me more likely to vote for McCain. | 132 |
| 8/23/08 Is Biden a plus? How will Barack Obama’s choice of Joe Biden for VP affect your willingness to vote for the Democratic ticket in November? | |
| Biden helps: He makes me more likely to vote for Obama. | 17 |
| Biden hurts: He makes me less likely to vote for Obama | 5 |
| Biden doesn’t matter: He makes no difference to my vote for president. | 29 |
| 7/30/08 Recession in Rappahannock? Which of the current economic stresses affects you the most? | |
| Loss of job or hours of work | 2 |
| Difficulty making home mortgage payments | 1 |
| Too much credit card debt | 9 |
| Food price inflation | 6 |
| High gas prices & cost of commuting | 29 |
| I’m managing without difficulty | 11 |
| 7/13/08 Night lights debate: Do you favor or oppose having the Board of Supervisors sign a deal to install night lights on school athletic fields and guarantee payments over 10 years? | |
| I am in favor | 863 |
| I am opposed | 858 |
| 6/2/08 A future for newspapers? How important is it to you that Rappahannock County continue to have a weekly printed newspaper? | |
| Very important–enough so that I will subscribe. | 89 |
| Somewhat important–I might not subscribe, but would buy copies some weeks. | 33 |
| Not so important–I might read a free copy, but I don’t buy. | 8 |
| Not at all important–I don’t need a weekly paper here. | 5 |
| 4/15/08 Gas prices: Filling the tank may cost $4 a gallon this summer. What do you plan to do about it? | |
| I plan to combine trips and drive less. | 98 |
| I won’t take a driving vacation this year. | 15 |
| I’ll trade in my gas guzzler and get a high-mileage car. | 4 |
| I won’t change anything, just pay more at the pump. | 53 |
| 3/24/08 Taxing Question: Should the Board of Supervisors raise property taxes to provide the $472,541 increase proposed by the School Board? | |
| Yes, the schools need the increase to offset state funding cuts, maintain programs and provide pay increases for school employees. | 112 |
| No, with enrollment dropping, school funding should be held level to avoid any increase in the property tax rate. | 539 |
| 3/10/08 New winery: Oasis Enterprises plans to build a large new winery at the Blue Rock Inn property. Do you favor oppose this prospect? | |
| Favor: It would give an economic and tourist boost to the County and help expand the tax base. | 128 |
| Oppose: It would be a big new commercial enterprise adding traffic and noise to a rural area. | 37 |
| Neutral: I would not oppose it if the County can regulate events, noise and size of crowds. | 16 |
| 2/15/08 Economic boost? The goverment plans to send tax-rebate checks to most Americans this spring. How will you use your tax rebate? | |
| Pay off credit card balances, bills or other debts. | 28 |
| Save or invest it. | 162 |
| Spend it on everyday expenses like food and gas. | 19 |
| Buy something special or splurge on a trip. | 11 |
| I don’t expect to get any check. | 25 |
| 2/4/08 Virginia Primaries: Cast your vote for the candidate you favor in the Feb. 12 primary (Please vote only for one party, not both) | |
| Democrat Hillary Clinton | 94 |
| Democrat Barack Obama | 55 |
| Republican John McCain | 212 |
| Republican Mitt Romney | 103 |
| Republican Mike Huckabee | 95 |
| Republican Ron Paul | 40 |
| 1/22/08 Recession? What’s your view of the economy? | |
| The economy is slowing down but won’t go into recession | 58 |
| A recession has already started but it probably won’t last long | 15 |
| A recession is underway and will be very long and deep | 29 |
| 12/22/07 Top news story of 2007: Pick the most important RappVoice news story of the year | |
| Jan: Jury convicts Ira Wayne Cloniger of first degree murder | 2 |
| Feb: Inn Chef Patrick O’Connell borrows $17.5 million to buy out ex-partner | 6 |
| Mar: Taxpayers protest rising school budgets | 3 |
| Apr: Emily Hilscher killed in Va. Tech massacre | 66 |
| May: Supervisors trim proposed school budget | 0 |
| June: Roger Mello quits as RCHS principal | 1 |
| July: Real estate slump hits county, slowing sales and prices | 0 |
| Aug: Sperryville condo proposal dies at Planning Commission | 4 |
| Sept: Killer Ira Wayne Cloniger sentenced to life in prison | 1 |
| Oct: Staph infection closes Rappahannock schools | 3 |
| Nov: Connie Smith elected first woman sheriff | 99 |
| Dec.: Mayhugh’s Store smashed, ATM stolen | 0 |
| 12/4/07 Crime in Rappahannock: Are thefts and break-ins a growing problem here, and if so why? | |
| Yes, crime is on the rise due to an influx of lawbreakers from nearby counties | 41 |
| Yes, crime is on the rise due to economic hardship pinching people in need. | 25 |
| Yes, crime is rising due to illegal immigrants and gangs | 4 |
| No, crime levels in Rappahannock remain low and unchanged. | 14 |
| 11/6/07 Conference Centers: Should the Board of Supervisors approve more conference centers in rural areas of Rappahannock that are zoned agricultural? | |
| Yes, because landowners need new sources of income to maintain open farmland. | 93 |
| No, because the noise, traffic and crowds would disturb neighbors | 131 |
| 10/29/07 Who will win? Which candidate do you think will be elected sheriff? (Note: This is your prediction of the winner, not necessarily your preferred candidate.) | |
| Connie Compton Smith | 285 |
| J.C. Welch | 284 |
| Chris Williams | 185 |
| 9/29/07 Redskins fans? Express your feelings about the Washington DC team: | |
| I love them: they will have a great season and go to the playoffs | 44 |
| I love them: but they’re mediocre and won’t make the playoffs | 31 |
| I can’t stand them: Go Dallas, Giants, Eagles! | 53 |
| I wish they’d cancel the NFL season so I could get my husband back | 5 |
| 9/7/07 The Sheriff’s Race: If you are a Rappahannock County voter, name your favorite | |
| Connie Compton Smith | 1076 |
| J.C. Welch | 1382 |
| Chris Williams | 1406 |
| Undecided | 86 |
| 7/19/07 Abusive fines? Should the Virginia General Assembly call a special session this year to repeal the large fines for driving violations passed to generate road-building funds? | |
| Yes, the fines are excessive and unfair. | 111 |
| No, the fines will help control speeding and fund needed road projects. | 112 |
| 7/9/07 Vacation Time: Will you travel this summer? How much and where? | |
| Yes, one week or less, within Virginia | 6 |
| Yes, more than a week, within Virginia | 1 |
| Yes, one week or less, outside Virginia | 11 |
| Yes, more than a week, outside Virginia | 21 |
| No, I have no time for vacation | 6 |
| No, I’ll take vacation time later in the year | 2 |
| I’ll take a summer vacation but spend it at home. | 3 |
| 6/21/07 Business vs. Beauty? Should the county ban home-based businesses, such as contractors’ or landscapers’ shops and yards, in agricultural zones? | |
| Maybe, but decide it on a case-by-case basis and ban it if neighbors object. | 43 |
| No, we’ve got to allow people to make a living and provide jobs, on their home propeties. | 230 |
| Yes, to preserve scenic beauty and quiet, such operations should be limited to commercial areas. | 281 |
| 5/21/07 Condo or not? What’s your view of converting the Sperryville Antique Market to condo apartments? | |
| Good idea: It would offer new housing options to seniors and buyers who can’t afford single-family homes | 115 |
| Bad idea: It would set a precedent that could lead to more condo projects | 104 |
| 4/3/07 Business needs: What kind of retail business would you like to see in Rappahannock County? | |
| Pharmacy | 60 |
| Fast-food restaurant | 54 |
| Laundry/dry cleaner | 8 |
| Gas/convenience store | 10 |
| Florist | 20 |
| Coffee shop | 48 |
| 3/9/07 Shrinking Rappahannock: the county lost population between 2000 and 2006, while the region boomed. How do you view this? | |
| It’s great; we want fewer people here | 88 |
| It would be better if we had modest growth | 35 |
| County would benefit from faster growth like counties around us | 7 |
| It’s a sign of decline, bad news for our county | 50 |
| 2/12/07 Mandatory medicine: Should the Virginia legislature require young girls to be vaccinated against a sexually-transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer? | |
| Yes | 56 |
| No | 65 |
| 2/3/07 Early Favorites: Which presidential hopeful is your favorite at this stage? | |
| John McCain | 65 |
| Hillary Clinton | 131 |
| Rudy Giuliani | 7 |
| Barack Obama | 37 |
| Mitt Romney | 7 |
| John Edwards | 15 |
| Newt Gingrich | 8 |
| Chris Dodd | 2 |
| Sam Brownback | 2 |
| Joe Biden | 2 |
| Bill Richardson | 2 |
| 1/19/07 Rappahannock wired: How do you connect at home to Internet? | |
| Dial-up connection | 48 |
| DSL line | 17 |
| High-speed cable | 38 |
| Satellite | 34 |
| No connection at home | 4 |
| Virginia Broadband (VABB) | 2 |
| Sprint EVDO Broadband | 4 |
| 1/5/07 Sewage sludge: Should it be allowed on Rappahannock lands? | |
| No, ban it and fight in court if sued. | 60 |
| Strictly regulate and monitor to discourage use. | 32 |
| Allow it if state regulation is followed. | 22 |
| Yes, it’s good fertilizer for farms. | 57 |
| 12/28/06 Eating out: What’s your favorite local place to eat? | |
| Inn at Little Washington | 13 |
| Four and Twenty Blackbirds | 25 |
| The Public House | 69 |
| Griffin Tavern | 53 |
| Thornton River Grille | 30 |
| Rae’s Place | 11 |
| Country Cafe | 38 |
| Lombardy Restaurant | 5 |
| Burgers-n-Things | 84 |
| Blue Rock Inn | 1 |
| E-Cow | 22 |
| Apple Hill Bakery | 17 |
| 12/14/06 Merry Christmas, or not? | |
| It’s OK to wish everyone a “Merry Christmas.” | 90 |
| It’s not OK because it may offend non-Christians. | 3 |
| It’s OK if you know the person you’re talking to is Christian. | 16 |
| If people are offended, that’s their problem. | 22 |
| 11/28/06 Real Estate Taxes: Are they too high or not? | |
| Taxes are too high, a real financial burden | 96 |
| High enough, but I can afford to pay | 21 |
| Not so high, compared to nearby counties | 22 |
| Too low, county needs more revenue | 4 |
| 11/17/06 RCHS Football: What to do? | |
| Play an easier schedule | 16 |
| Drop it entirely | 56 |
| Keep playing in Bull Run Dist. | 56 |
| I really don’t care | 5 |