Voters in Pima County, which includes Tucson, support a $10 million bond proposal to buyopen space around Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, but they would like the basepreservation measure separated from a larger $174 million open space proposition,according to a recent poll.
Margaret Kenski, founder of the polling firm Arizona Opinion, said 61% of those polledin a recent survey favored using bond financing to buy land that would prevent civilianencroachment on the base. The issue is on the front burner because the Base Realignmentand Closure Commission in 2005 will consider every U.S. military base for potentialclosure. Among the factors under consideration is whether civilian encroachment has madea base obsolete.
According to Kenski's polling, more than 65% of those asked favor a proposal by Rep.Marian McClure, R-Tucson, to separate the base bonds from those designed to create openspace for parks and recreation.
About 68% support issuing bonds to buy land around Davis-Monthan while 65% favor theother open-space proposals. Kenski cautioned that the polls do not indicate that theballot issues will enjoy a cakewalk at the polls May 18. Typically, support drops onceorganized opposition forms, she said.
