Winter weather photos
SI cover features area model
Madison vs. Waynesville
Obama voters key to levy win
Only a Riverside precinct voted for Obama and against Dayton schools levy.
Related content:
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Extras
Photos
DAYTON — Did Barack Obama help Dayton schools pass its levy Nov. 4?
He sure didn't hurt, a Dayton Daily News analysis found.
Of the 126 precincts that approved the winning levy — 40 more than the unsuccessful levy of May 2007 — all but one went for Democrat Obama, unofficial totals from the Montgomery County Board of Elections show.
The lone precinct that approved the 4.9-mill operating levy and went for Republican John McCain was Riverside E in the northeastern quadrant of the city. But only 35 residents voted in that precinct, and the levy squeaked by 18-17.
"It's not rocket science," Steve Avakian, a community outreach consultant for several local school districts, said Friday, Nov. 14. "The Obama factor certainly helped them in a big way. Without that it probably would have been a much closer election."
Several factors helped the levy pass, though, Avakian noted. The levy was more than three times smaller than the failed levy of 2007; the campaign, Citizens for Dayton's Future, raised record levels of money (around $400,000) and dumped piles into television advertising. Also, the stakes were enormous for the entire region, as high-profiled community leaders stressed.
"I'm sure that they picked up a lot of support, too, from people who realized that to bankrupt the schools would be a terrifying turn of events," Avakian said. "Housing values are low enough right now. Imagine what would have happened if that levy lost. You wouldn't be able to give away a house in Dayton, Ohio."
All told, 151 of the school district's 172 precincts, or 83 percent, supported Obama.
The higher the support for Obama in the precincts, the higher the support for the levy, the Daily News analysis found. Obama outpolled McCain by a 6-1 majority or by 34,885 votes in the 125 precincts that approved the levy.
In the 47 precincts that voted against the levy, McCain and Obama were about even, with Obama edging the Republican by 919 votes.
In general, however, the precincts that rejected the levy most heavily (60 percent to 75 percent) voted for McCain.
The analysis found that the positive correlation between Obama and levy support was statistically significant.
For every 10 percent increase in Obama support in a precinct, levy support increased by about 5 percent.
Comments
By Lisa
November 18, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
The Dayton public schools have gone drastically downhill the last 30 years and that is the fact. I graduated from Centerville in the late 1970s and the Dayton Public Schools were still decent as I had friends that went to Meadowdale, Belmont, etc. Now, they are deplorable. The cycle is jobs leave the city, people move to the suburbs, crime increases in the city, schools go downhill because there is not revenue base. This levy will help the schools improve, now it is the parent’s part.
By NickM
November 15, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
Great job DDN! You will let someone call white people “Crackers” At least im above calling him the N word. Otherwise you might have to censor me. Get a life Wordell. You racist.
By Craig
November 15, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
My bad. They went and got all those baby daddy’s momma’s cuz all the baby’s daddy’s that were in jail or prison on felony charges couldn’t vote. Why should those of us that work continue to have our hard earned taxed dollars given to those who refuse to get an education or a job? I can understand helping those with medical disabilities or the mentally retarded, etc. Then we allow these people to reproduce and continue the cycle of dependency on the government. The # of dropouts @ DPS=crazy.
By Jim
November 15, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Craig, Learn the Law. In the State of Ohio you can vote with a felony conviction. BTW, I find your comments racially motivated and offensive. All children deserve a first class education, regardless of where they live. I voted for the levy because I’m tired of the ignorance (like yours) that continues to plague this community. Intellect, Reason, hard work, and education are the ways out of poverty. Maybe at some point you’ll realize that we’re all in this together.
By Craig
November 15, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
Well considering the Democrats went out to all low income housing areas and located all those without felony convictions (all the baby daddy’s mommas) to register and vote for all the “D’s”, of course the DPS levy would pass! What was Obama’s message? “Spread the Wealth”? Of course all the people getting free government housing, food & healthcare would vote for someone that will give them more handouts without them lifting a finger. OBAMA=OSAMA-it’s all good in the hood!
By nasty comments
November 15, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
DDN will not police the comments on a story, no matter how nasty or off topic they are, unless the comments turn against their own staff. Evidence the election story on the clowns running Moraine. When comments questioned the personal behavior of the writer, they were pulled. Then questions popped up about why comments were disappearing and ‘poof’ all the comments were gone. DDN doesn’t want topical debate, they have the most simplistic ‘questions’ to spur postings. DDN is info-tainment.
By Linda D
November 15, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
I think that because of the Presidential race and the people who wanted to have their vote for that, contributed to the amount of residents who voted for the school levy, s well. Also the levy amount and we needed a change as far as the school board administrators. People were tired of Percy Mack and his crew. We needed a new FACE, and the Interemseems to be doing a good job…
By Dan
November 15, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
I think that the property owners in the area should have sole vote in this. They are the ones that are going to pay the bill. All other whiners and freeloaders can wait in line for their free meal and handouts. If you want your kids to school with families with jobs then get up and go get a job. Teach your kids what the real American way is all about. Some just choose to sit and wait on others to hand to them what is not rightfully theirs.Its easy to blame the system when your just plain LAZY!!!
By Anon
November 15, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
I voted AGAINST the school levy in my district (and ALL levies but one) because it looked imminent that obama was going to get in, he plans in raising taxes anyway, so why should I vote myself MORE taxes? Let’s rob from the achievers and give it to the non-achievers! This country is going to hell in a handbag…
By dan
November 15, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Folks, we are bankrupt as a country. There will be no giveaways, because we don’t have it. I recommend you spend what little time is left getting your financial affairs in order. We will witness something that has never happened to the global community. The financial meltdown that has just occurred will turn into a financial tsunami. The solution will not be well received as we as a nation will attempt to avoid bankruptcy.
By ohiogirl
November 15, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Steve, I think you have been brainwashed by the McCain campaign during the election season because you really think that once Obama is in office that this country is going to become a socialist country. I live in Moraine and I support West Carrollton schools. What proof do you have that Obama is going to turn this country into the United Socialist States of America?
By Old Scratch
November 15, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Obama is the real deal! Now I hear he is tapping Rhine McClin for secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Bring back busing, I want my kids going to school with some kids whose parents work for a living.
By Tim
November 15, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Sure thing that a vote for Obama was also a ‘giddy’ vote for the levy; figuring whom who voted for both would not have to pay their share of the tax under the “spread the wealth program”.
By Barrack Oboy
November 15, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Give all of my people something for nothing! A just reward for stealing…..I mean sealing the election.
By Steve
November 15, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
To MC:
This WAS the United State of America. It is now the United Socialist States of America. Our country is gone. Every soldier and sailor that has EVER served, has now done so in vain.
By Steve
November 15, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
What you have to consider is that many of those who voted for the school levy do not pay any property taxes! What the hell do they care? Combine this with the Marxist paper that is called The Dayton Daily News and what would you expect?
By daniel
November 15, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
who are you calling a cracker you n****r ??
By Love my Community
November 15, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
Funny thing, DDN: I voted for McCain and I planned to vote for the Dayton School Levy, too. However, due to a malfunctioning voting machine, the Dayton Levy issue was completely left off of my ballot, and I was unable to vote for it. Hey, did Dayton Daily News rig the machines just to get this story???
By torqued
November 15, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
Obama has nothing to do with our local schools and economy. Blame that on our current city council and mayor. Most all Cty of Day wrkrs have their kids in private schools. It is time to take back what is left of this city. WEAR THE CITY OUT! If you own here , file to get all the problems fixed while you can. Be a voice in saving this armpit of a disaster that has already started to unfold.
By mc
November 15, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this
Tim why are you afraid of are right to freedom of speach or are you one of those who, if you don’t like it, lets get rid of it. The founding fathers are turning in there graves. This is the United States of America. We have rights don’t give them up people. Just because you don’t like what someone says doesn’t mean shoot them to death. Wordell needs to be put in his place. WOW! Opnions people! Learn from it don’t hate from it.
By barking bulldog
November 15, 2008 6:14 AM | Link to this
The same moochers of society aka democrats who want everything given to them by the government want the DPS to provide for their kids because they can’t. They’re failures as parents and don’t care what the school levy costs someone else to have to pay - because they don’t work & they won’t have to pay for it. DPS has some of the regions highest expeniture per pupil but yet continues to be a leader of poor test scores and low academic quality. More $$$ doesn’t mean better education
By Tim
November 15, 2008 5:17 AM | Link to this
Why does the DDN allow the above racist to continue to post? Are they afraid? Wordell needs to be put in his place.
By Wordell
November 15, 2008 12:54 AM | Link to this
Obama will make everything pass. He will make sure gas passes. He will pay my mortgage. He will pay my car payment/electric/gas/water/internet bills. He will free me from my 2nd amendment right to protect myself and assign a Police Officer to protect me 24 hours a day. He will make sure that those devil crackers are finally put in their place. WE HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM ALL CARE!!!!!!!!!!!