By Clarence Cromwell
A Jan. 27 and 28 telephone poll about Measure G, orchestrated by the 3-week-old group "No on G," is drawing criticism from some Saratoga respondents who said the questions were biased against the ballot initiative.
Many respondents complained that survey operators seemed to be trying to convince them to vote against the measure rather than asking for their opinions. Operators reportedly refused to say who paid for the survey.
The phone-bank survey, created by political consultant Larry Tramutola, launched the "No on G" group's campaign. The group formed Jan. 18, when Treasurer George Kreamer and Chairman Michael Fox Sr. filed papers with Saratoga City Clerk Betsy Cory.
Kreamer confirmed that his organization had hired Protocall, a Pleasanton-based telemarketing firm, to conduct the survey among 7,700 Saratoga citizens who vote frequently.
Survey respondents said they were annoyed by questions apparently designed to change their opinions about Measure G.
"The questions were worded in such a way [that] it was similar to: 'When did you stop beating your wife?' " said Marcia Fariss, who was among the Saratogans called Jan. 28 by Protocall representatives. "You couldn't give an answer. It was not a fair polling."
Among many questions, Fariss said, she was asked the following: "Do you know that you will lose control of your property for the next 30 years if this passes?" And:
"Do you know you'll have to go to a vote if you want to add a second bedroom?"
In another version of the poll, the operator reportedly asked respondents whether they would support the measure under certain circumstances:
"Would you support the measure if the League of Women Voters opposes it?"
"Would you still vote for it if it will freeze land use policies for 30 years?"
"Would you support it if you knew it was going to create elections that would cost $60,000?"
All of the questions contain the same claims as the ballot argument against Measure G, which initiative authors and supporters previously protested as untrue and therefore illegal. Measure G opponents maintained that the statements are true.
The Save Our Neighborhoods Initiative Committee on Jan. 26 dropped a threat to take Saratoga's City Council to court and make it change the ballot argument written by Mayor Paul Jacobs and Vice Mayor Gillian Moran.
That was the last day, under election law, to seek a court order changing a ballot statement. The question died because the council demanded similar changes of the committee, and neither side wanted to comply.
After raising their eyebrows at the survey questions, residents were irritated that Protocall operators wouldn't say who was behind the survey.
"I asked, 'Could you please tell me who is sponsoring this survey?' and they stonewalled," Fariss said.
When Suzanne Koenig asked a very polite operator named Brandy on Jan. 27 to tell her who paid for the survey, Brandy assured her that no taxpayer money is being spent, but refused to name the sponsor.
Some callers, who were told that the Good Government Group, League of Women Voters and Saratoga City Council opposed the initiative, said they thought those groups paid for the survey.
Fox said he didn't know whether the groups or individual City Council members had contributed funding to "No on G." Kreamer confirmed only that he, Fox and other members of "No on G" contributed funds.
GGG President Ann Peterson said her group didn't contribute, but its members could have. League of Women Voters opposes Measure G, but does not contribute funds to any political cause, said Helga Ruby, co-president of the Los Gatos-Saratoga-Monte Sereno league. The City Council is excluded from spending city funds on campaign measures, but councilmembers could contribute.
"No on G" Chairman Michael Fox defended the survey, saying it was intended to be a scientific poll.
"It's designed to see how voters in Saratoga feel about the measure. I think to know what the voter thinks is very important," Fox said.
He said two groups are phoning residents for the "No on G" committee.
Political pundit Larry Tramutola, who was hired to handle the "No on G" campaign, brainstormed the nine-question survey and hired Protocall. Another phone bank is connected with "No on G," but is staffed by volunteers.
Fox said "No on G" members met for the first time six weeks ago.
Later campaigning may involve door-to-door chats with voters and newspaper advertising, he said. Fox also said he plans to send out a personal letter asking 1,000 Saratogans to contribute to the group.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, February 7, 1996.
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