Push Poll misleads Flagstaff voters

Citizens for Sensible Government sponsored a misleading push-poll. The poll included a deceptive question designed to turn voters against the proposed bonds for open space. Not only does the so-called pollster falsely assert that Flagstaff residents will pay increased taxes if the bond passes, but the sponsor of the poll is not identified. This would appear to be a violation of campaign spending laws intended to require full disclosure. Fred Solop, a professional pollster at NAU has filed a complaint in connection with this deceptive push poll. Articles about this push poll appeared in the Daily Sun on April 8 and April 16.

Listen to the push-poll call received by Dan Frazier on April 13. Reports in the Daily Sun indicated the poll was sponsored by Citizens for Sensible Government. You must have a media player installed. 56 seconds.

Visit the Web site of Summit Research, the company that was paid to conduct the push-poll. Read about how "The Summit Group doesn't just win the easy ones!"

Read the statement of the American Association of Public Opinion Research about push-polling with special emphasis on push-polling in Flagstaff. Visit the AAPOR Web site.

Read two letters from Dan Frazier to the Tempe Planning and Zoning Commission about Michael Crusa, the founder and president of Summit Research. The first letter asks that the commission consider taking action against commissioner Crusa due to his many corporate business ties and apparent conflicts of interest. The second letter outlines Crusa's previous involvement in the 1991 AzScam scandal.

Letter 1 (April 14,2004).

Letter 2 (April 15, 2004).