The purpose of this study was to test House's and Mason's hypothesis (1975) that only a weak relationship exists between political alienation and traditional demographic definitions of social position. Such demographic variables include age, sex, socioeconomic status, length of residency in the community, and occupational prestige. Data was collected a week before the city council election in a southwestern community where an increase in utility rates had been a major issue. A respondent's agreement with one statement in the survey, that citizens do not have much control over what city officials do, was scored as alienation. Results show that 65% of those surveyed feel alienation toward community leaders and that demographic variables explain only a small percentage of the variation between alienated and unalienated segments of the community. Further conclusions are that (1) the high level of alienation did not stem from the unpopularity of the utility rate increase, (2) the views of both groups regarding the need for community services are similar, and (3) the characteristics of the alienated majority must be ascertained anew. This majority's sense of responsibility combined with their feelings of mistrust can lead to a reappraisal of community needs. References and statistical tables are included. (KC)