Most of Rep. Enid Greene Waldholtz's 2nd Congressional District constituents don't believe she is telling the truth concerning her tangled personal and campaign finances and most think she shouldn't run again in 1996, an overnight Deseret News/KSL poll shows.
Pollster Dan Jones & Associates polled 302 adults in the 2nd District Thursday. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percent.Jones asked people to respond to the questions based on what they know or have heard of Waldholtz's problems. If the respondent said they hadn't heard anything on Waldholtz, Jones dropped them from the survey.
Waldholtz has yet to make a complete and full explanation of her problems over the past months and weeks. She says she will "soon" return to Utah and make such a disclosure.
She has, however, issued press statements saying she didn't know how husband Joe Waldholtz, who turned himself in Friday morning, was misusing their personal and campaign finances, that she believes he cheated and lied to her and her family. She's already filed for divorce. And she's issued statements saying she believed she followed all federal campaign laws. She was asked to respond to the poll results, but didn't by press time.
Jones found that 55 percent of district residents think Enid Waldholtz is not telling the truth about all that has happened (30 percent do believe her).
And 57 percent don't think she should seek re-election in 1996 (28 percent think she should).
In comparing answers of those who said they are Republicans - likely the most loyal to Enid Waldholtz, who is also a Republican - Jones found that 41 percent of Republicans believe her, 42 percent don't.
However, only 36 percent of Republicans think she should seek re-election next year, 49 percent of district Republicans think she shouldn't seek re-election.
There's been some talk in Utah and Washington, D.C., of the congresswoman resigning. But constituents are mixed on that big step. Forty-four percent said she should resign, 40 percent said no. Republicans don't think she should resign - 60 percent said she shouldn't quit, only 29 percent of Republicans said she should.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Deseret News/KSL poll
Do you believe Enid Waldholtz is telling the truth when she says she knew nothing of her husband Joe's dealings in their personal and political finances?
DEFINITELY 10%
PROBABLY 20%
PROBABLY NOT 25%
DEFINITELY NOT 30%
DON'T KNOW 15%
Do you think Enid Waldholtz should resign her 2nd Congressional District seat?
DEFINITELY SHOULD 27%
PROBABLY SHOULD 13%
PROBABLY SHOULD NOT 20%
DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT 24%
DON'T KNOW 17%
Do you think Enid Waldholtz should run for re-election in 1996?
DEFINITELY SHOULD 14%
PROBABLY SHOULD 14%
PROBABLY SHOULD NOT 15%
DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT 42%
DON'T KNOW 16%
Poll conducted Nov. 16, 1995, of 302 adults in the 2nd Congressional District. Margin of error +/-5.5%. Survey conducted by Dan Jones & Associates. Copyright 1995 Deseret News.