ORANGE COUNTY ANNUAL SURVEY 1998

Introduction 

This seventeenth report of the Orange County Annual Survey continues to track trends over time in the 
county's important social, economic and political issues. This year, we have a special focus on 
understanding the impacts of increasing urbanization and the changing demographics of Orange County. 

Here are the questions we seek to answer in the 1998 survey: 

1. Is Orange County showing signs of losing its suburban character? Specifically, is it becoming more 
like its large urban neighbor to the north? How does Orange County compare with Los Angeles County in 
satisfaction with the local quality of life and ratings of local government? 

2. How are the changing demographics in Orange County expressing themselves in today's economic, social 
and political trends? Specifically, how do the Latino and Asian populations compare with non-Hispanic 
whites in consumer confidence, charitable giving and political involvement? 

3. Is there public support for building an international airport at the site of the closing El Toro 
Marine Corps Air Station? What would residents most prefer to do with the base and with John Wayne 
Airport? Do they approve of the county government's handling of this issue? 

4. How do residents rate local public schools? What kinds of reforms are they likely to support? Do they 
favor increasing taxes for schools and lowering the threshold for passing school bonds? 

5. What are the latest economic, social and political trends? What is the overall mood and what changes 
are evident in attitudes toward the economy, transportation, housing, charity and politics? 

In analyzing the 1998 survey, we compare the results with previous surveys. We examine differences in 
this year's responses by age, income, region, political party and other subgroups. We also contrast the 
Orange County results with survey findings from Los Angeles County, based on the 1998 Public Policy 
Institute of California Statewide Surveys on the Changing Political Landscape of California by Mark 
Baldassare.