Survey institutions hired to assess governor candidates' popularity
Jonker Rumteh, The Jakarta Post, Manado
A team of researchers hired by Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) presented on Tuesday night the methodology used in a survey held recently in the province to assess the popularity of PDS gubernatorial candidates.
The survey was the second to date following a similar survey held in Batam recently to gauge the popularity of Batam gubernatorial candidates ahead of the direct election of governors of regional governments this year.
During a presentation on Tuesday night in a hotel in Manado, researcher Shervas Pandur from the Institute for Good Governance said that his team had deployed 180 interviewers to all municipalities and regencies in North Sulawesi province.
The interviewers have interviewed 1,462 randomly in nine municipalities and regencies in the province, said Shervas.
"The survey is aimed at gauging the popularity of gubernatorial candidates from the PDS," said Shervas.
Some individuals have applied to be PDS candidates, and once chosen they must compete with other candidates from other parties in the election of North Sulawesi governor in June this year.
Top notch party members were present in the presentation, including PDS secretary-general Denny Tewu. Also present were candidate Brig. Gen. Wenny Warouw and a member of a campaign team of candidate Lt. Gen. Johny Lumintang.
According to Shervas, every question directed to the interviewees had earlier been discussed with statisticians and communication experts so that the questions carried weight.
The survey outcomes will be handed over to the PDS central board as part of its criteria to select North Sulawesi candidates from the party.
"We do not disclose the survey outcome in the presentation, but we will hand it over to the PDS central board," said Shervas, whose institution worked together with polling institution Frontier in the survey.
Deny Tewu confirmed that the party is cooperating with the Institute for Good Governance and Frontier to hold a survey to choose candidates for head of the regional governments in the country ahead of the direct election. "The survey outcome will not be published, but the candidates are given the opportunity to see the survey outcomes," said Deny.
According to Deny, besides the popularity of the candidate other criteria included personal capability and integrity.
"The survey outcome alone will count for 45 percent," said Deny, adding that the party will announce its candidates on Thursday. Besides Brig. Gen. (police) Wenny Warouw and Lt. Gen. (Army) Johny Lumintang, another candidate is Brig. Gen. (police) Herald Dotulong.