“Polls are okay only if not intended to influence. Clearly, this one in Dixon was”

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Many residents were surprised to get a phone call or a text message over the weekend referring them to a poll about city issues conducted by Lew Edwards Group. It appears whomever the poll is for is trying to figure out the best “carrot” to use to pass a half-cent or one-cent sales tax hike, but who that might be has not yet been determined as calls to the City Manager, a city councilman, and to a media company contracted by the city have not yet been returned.

One local attorney has concerns that if this was a city endeavor, the city could be in trouble as public funds are not to be spent promoting initiatives or tax increases.

“Polls are okay only if not intended to influence. Clearly, this one in Dixon was,” said Attorney Jaimee Jones of Dixon who provided information from the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Political polling has become a necessary component of campaign strategy, but polls conducted by professional polling companies are not intended to influence or persuade voters. Instead, they are a tool to gather information to guide the campaign’s future activities, including subsequent communications that actually may be intended to influence the electorate, according to the information.

The main issues seemed to focus on whether or not a half cent or a one-cent sales tax hike would pass one’s favor. Part of justifying either hike focused on police and fire response, wildfire preparedness, street maintenance, the Parkway Boulevard Overpass, and others.

It asked participants to check three in highest priority order. Options were: Increasing affordable housing; repairing city streets; limiting growth and development; supporting youth programs; reducing traffic congestion; maintaining fast emergency response; reducing crime, gangs, drugs, and graffiti; addressing the homeless issues; supporting local schools; supporting youth programs; supporting senior citizen programs; improving parks; protecting the environment; completing the Parkway Overpass; and improving transit. There were other “sub-issues” emphasizing numerous statements and questions in regards to water rates, facilities, and pipe upgrade issues; the responsibilities of a City Clerk; questions about what newspaper do we read; and specifics about which social media site we use for local news.

One question, like most, begins with a statement. For example, “The City needs to ensure that there is safe, clean, and abundant water supply now and for future generations.” Then asks, “Do you agree or strongly disagree with that statement?”

It polled citizens about the City Clerk position, while describing in detail expectations of a city clerk’s duties and further asked if the citizen would support undoing Measure T that would make the City Clerk’s position appointed. This, of course, would undo Measure T that voters passed in the November 2020 election for an elected City Clerk.

The poll reveals our first inclinations of the new majority’s agenda and the Bird administration as the Mayor and City Manager have been mostly quiet as to what their agenda goals are. A goal setting special session with the Mayor and City Council was recently scheduled. The fact that they are polling on these three issues telegraph that they will be priorities in this administration by voters despite that all three issues were spoken on in the last two elections.

Measure N in 2018 was a proposed half-cent sales tax; Measure T was in 2020 where citizens voted 55 percent to have an elected City Clerk; and Measure S was just for citizens in the city water district and that was voted overwhelmingly against any water rate increase without further options considered.