Beware of Mayoral Candidate Mike Caldwell's Ongoing "Push Poll"

Disappointing campaign conduct from one of our Emerald City mayoral candidates

By Curmudgeon

I am sorry to report that Mayoral candidate Mr. Mike Caldwell apparently has a telephone push poll currently going on. You're asked which of the 8 candidates you would vote for right now, and if you push a number indicating anyone other than Caldwell [as someone in our house did], a string of "candidate specific" questions begins. They take this format: "If you knew Mike Caldwell was president of the Ogden Visitors and Convention Bureau" [or Weber County's], would you be more likely to vote for him or less likely. Push one for more likely. Push two for less likely." There is no "no opinion" or "no difference" option offered. Other alleged "poll questions" go on in the same vein. After a while, our house member hung up and didn't finish out the alleged poll, which the recorded voice promised would take no longer than three minutes.

This is not a poll, I think. It's a campaign robo call evidently designed to parade Mr. Caldwell' s qualifications before those who indicate that at the moment do not intend to vote for him. And as such it's a sleazy business. Candidates with a sound grasp of ethical conduct in re: campaigns should not sink to such tactics.

I am disappointed. Our house is split on candidates for the primary. I'd been, lately, leaning a bit toward Caldwell. The leaning has come to a halt. I'm going to have to reconsider. If you can't campaign straight up, what does that say about the public official you are likely to be if elected?

I am really disappointed.