Eight area residents have reported to NeighborhoodNet that they have had telephone calls from pollsters, who identify themselves as being located in New Jersey and Florida. Pollsters did not say who wanted the poll done but we know that polls were not commissioned by any group opposed to the soccer fields. We can only guess that soccer proponents, "grassroots" groups with lots of money, probably had these polls put in place.

Why all these polls and what purpose do they serve?

1. Polls help gauge how the vote is going.

2. Polls give valuable information to soccer proponents so they can craft new TV, radio, or print ads to better appeal to voters.

3. Polls can give data that might be deliberately misleading but the person responding is not aware of the true facts. For example, a question might state: Would you change your mind if you knew the soccer fields only cost $32 dollars a piece? Of course this is not true but the person responding may not realize that.

Telephone Poll Questions

Here is a sampling of the questions that pollsters asked during the telephone poll, as reported to us by area residents:

1. Do you know Cerner Corporation? Yes or No

{Note from NeighborhoodNet: Neal Patterson is one of the new owners of the Wizards, incorporated under the name OnGoal L.L.C; Patterson is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Founder of Cerner, Corporation--a healthcare information technology company.}

See "Hunt Family Announces Sale of Wizards . . . "

2. Do you have a postive or negative reaction about Cerner?

3. Who will you vote for? The list includes: Annabeth Surbaugh, Charlotte O'Hara, and other local politicians.

4. Are you a soccer supporter? Yes or No

5. How will you vote on the soccer bond? Yes or No

5 (second part) Do you know there is a shortage of soccer fields? Yes or No

6. Would you probably vote yes or no or would you definitely vote yes or no?

7. Here is the wording on the ballot (pollster reads the ballot language). Would you vote yes or no?

8. Would you change your mind if Kathleen Sebelius endorsed this initiative? {Note: other people reported that the pollster said: Would you change you mind if you knew that Bill Graves, former Governor, endorsed initiative?}

9. Have you seen the TV commercials? Yes or No

10. Have you heard the radio commercials? Yes or No

11. Have the radio and TV ads helped you decide to vote for the proposal? Yes or No

12. Are you a voter in Johnson County? Yes or No

13. Do you always, usually, or never vote?

14. Would you like more information about the proposal? Would this change your mind? Yes or No

15. Would you like me to explain exactly what the soccer proposal is? Yes or No

16. What is your race? (Most people said they declined to answer this and found it offensive.)

17. What is your age? (Most people declined to answer--when they declined, the pollster asked if they would answer in age ranges. People again declined.)

18. What is your income? (Most people responded: none of your business.)

19. What is your party affiliation? Democrat or Republican

So it's obvious that pollsters are busy trying to get out the vote and craft advertising to fit the answers. We just wish they would have asked one more question:

Do you believe that this is "for the kids" or "for the Wizards?"

Reported by
Shirley Phillips
for NeighborhoodNet
www.nbrhd.net