Making local level tobacco policy: But will I be re-elected?

Developing clean indoor air policies at the local level is often the first step in moving toward a statewide smoke-free policy. Studies in local jurisdictions in Arizona have shown that local level policy makers are reluctant to address the issue of tobacco control. Local level policy makers may personally support clean indoor air ordinances and understand that the general public supports these laws, but they fear that by proposing or supporting these laws they will jeopardize their chances of being re-elected. Based on the experience of 92 local level policy makers who voted on a total of 15 tobacco use ordinances over the past five years, we show that chances of re-election are increased for those who vote in favor of an ordinance that restricts where tobacco can be used, regardless of the strength of the ordinance.