Petition Findings - Early Results
By: Eric
Published On: 7/18/2007 3:15:28 PM
| Zip | Signatures |
| ASHBURN (20147) | 1104 |
| SALEM (24153) | 1091 |
| ROANOKE (24018) | 1055 |
| WOODBRIDGE (22193) | 1045 |
| MIDLOTHIAN (23112) | 993 |
| FAIRFAX (22030) | 952 |
| VIRGINIA BEACH (23464) | 950 |
| WOODBRIDGE (22192) | 917 |
| FAIRFAX (22033) | 916 |
| CENTREVILLE (20120) | 901 |
It's too early to say exactly which incumbents are in hot water over the Abusive Driver Fees (aka the Albo Tax), but here's some data that might start to shed some light on the question.
The table at left shows the zip codes with the most number of petition signatures. Given that anger in the petition (and in general) is focused on the incumbents, the Delegates/Senators representing these zip codes may be feeling a little uncomfortable.
Is this information just a reflection of population distribution or is it a loud and clear message? I'm tempted to say that it's just population centers driving this result and not excessive anger in these zips. But the fact that this is an off-off year election likely means low turn out, therefore any outpouring of anger, even in a high population zone, could spell trouble for the incumbents.
A few technical notes:
1. This covers signatures through the 110,000 mark.
2. Due to the buffoonish nature of the masses, the zip code field is filled with all sorts of garbage data. I've been cleaning it but that's a time consuming process and it'll take a while to whip it all into shape. While this data is pretty good, it's certainly not 100% accurate and never will be.
3. Related to point 2 - a number of people put in their city/county instead of zip code. That information has been excluded for this result but I plan on using all data to display county level aggregates sometime in the future.
Comments
Ashburn #1? (Doug in Mount Vernon - 7/18/2007 5:09:15 PM)
That's Dave Poisson's district and I suspect as a supporter of the fees 4 times, folks may not be too happy with him for that.
I hope Dave can succeed in showing folks why it's actually the Republican's bad deed. But he may have to take a hit for this. It might make his race, which looked pretty solid a few months back, a bit more competitive. However, his opponent is STILL a flat-earther.
It is primarily the Republican's fault (Eric - 7/18/2007 5:39:13 PM)
but the Democrats who supported this may end up paying as well. If Poisson is a 4 time supporter then he's going to have to sleep in the bed he made for himself.
Virginia Beach (Susan P. - 7/18/2007 5:18:11 PM)
I don't think there's a contested House or Senate seat in 23464 (Kempsville).
Correction! (Susan P. - 7/18/2007 10:03:05 PM)
Over 1/3 of John Welch's house district is in zip code 23464, and he has a very good Democratic opponent. Plus, John Welch is not exactly the, um, brightest bulb, as you may have noticed if you have ever heard him try to talk.
Midlothian (JScott - 7/19/2007 1:28:14 PM)
Interesting I believe that zip code and number represents more people that voted in the Primary to nominate Democrat to run for the open Board Of Supervisor seat for that part of Chesterfield.
Countless legislators including Republicans have been asking Kaine for to call a special session on the fees. He prefers to wait until January. I am now leaning toward rolling my anger toward this Republicans measure squarely on him. Inaction is simply unacceptable with the overwhelming opposition to this.