Straw Poll: District 5 County Commissioner Race

[Smiling JOe]

From the number of people voting today -- after posting the current results on SoWal -- I'm guessing we DO have a broad swath of people voting in the straw poll. (I could almost hear the phones ringing from various candidates!)

Woooo-Weeee! You are right. Those other 9 people voting are really smokin' tying up the server.

 

[Beach Runner]

Why would you waste a vote by writing in for someone who doesn't want the job anymore. She has endorsed Alan Osborne.

True.dat

But sometimes in local elections for which I feel there is no good choice, I write-in Mick Jagger. I know that's totally stupid, so you don't have to remind me.;-)

 

[DemoLady]

It's only a straw poll

Woooo-Weeee! You are right. Those other 9 people voting are really smokin' tying up the server.

Whew! Lighten up. It's only a straw poll. Your logic is a bit unusual. How can a poll of Republican candidates be biased because it's listed on a Democratic web site? Surely you don't think that all Democrats (about 1/3 of the county voters) will vote for the same Republican.

Republican candidate for District 5 Alan Osborne attended our DEC meeting last Monday night and presented his candidacy. After the meeting, I heard some Democrats saying they were "really impressed with his candor and enthusiasm." Some didn't like his "brashness." Some thought he "talked too much." Some liked his "seeming lack of ties to any pressure groups." My thought: He showed up at a Democratic event and made his case. Good idea.

Current results: (25 votes)

Braunstien 16%; Hudson 44%; Jones 8%; Osborne 28%; Smith 4%

Cast your straw poll vote at www.waltondemocrats.org

 

[Smiling JOe]

I say it has the potential to be biased, based on the name of the website. Most Republican and non-partisan voters won't go to a Democrat site to vote, unless they or their family members are on the list as candidates. I would think that most of the voters on that page are Democrats, with the exception of the above noted.

I point it out simply because so many people will vote with the masses. If they see a particular candidate with a big lead, even in a straw poll, they will tend to go with the candidate who is leading. That is the only reason why I point out the distinction that a straw poll on a Democratic Party website is probably not including the opinions of all of the voters. Straw polls are interesting to see, but I with only 25 total votes, the rankings of the candidates should carry absolutely zero weight. All it shows me is that Bob has some family in the area with internet access. lol

 

[Bob Hudson]

SJ:

Your analysis of the "Straw Poll" on the Walton Democratic party shows a tremendous insight into the whole process. It is a site that does not rely on a user being "registered" and is esily manipulated by anyone who sets out to do so. I don't frequent the WDEC site very often myself, other than as a resource for video review the BCC proceedings on ocassion(this is a tremendous service to the people of Walton County - my hats off tto them for that).

I can tell you that the phone poll that I had conducted last week in no way resembles the current WDEC site straw poll. It was not directed at registered Republicans, Democrats or Independents. It was directed at those "super voters" that have a track record of actually voting in primaries in Walton County regardless of their party registration.

This year may be a little different than the historical low turnout in primaries in Walton County, so every candidate is leaving very few stones unturned.

The ultimate poll will occur on August 26th.

I find it most interesting that the Walton Sun failed to report on the Chamber Forum - about 300 people were present - not a peep !

 

[DemoLady]

. . .the way the hot air blows

Straw Poll: A survey of opinion which is unofficial, casual, or ad hoc

This idiom alludes to a straw used to show in what direction the wind blows, in this case the wind of public opinion. O. Henry joked about it in A Ruler of Men (1907): "A straw vote only shows which way the hot air blows." [c. 1885]

From the git-go, this poll has been advertised as a "straw poll" -- nothing more. However, we'll keep it going until August 26th and see how far off it is after the primary results are in. ;-)

 

[Jdarg]

Straw Poll: A survey of opinion which is unofficial, casual, or ad hoc

This idiom alludes to a straw used to show in what direction the wind blows, in this case the wind of public opinion. O. Henry joked about it in A Ruler of Men (1907): "A straw vote only shows which way the hot air blows." [c. 1885]

From the git-go, this poll has been advertised as a "straw poll" -- nothing more. However, we'll keep it going until August 26th and see how far off it is after the primary results are in. ;-)

Thanks!!

 

[Andy A]

Osborne has so LOST my vote!

5 copies of the same postcard flier in the mailbox were followed a week later by a campaign sign placed in my yard! :angry:

They are now ALL in the trash, along with any hopes of garnering my vote!

With all due respect, if this is what you base your vote on, you are in serious trouble. The post card fliers were not put there by the candidate but by some campaign worker or even someone hired to distribute them. You get five because they want to get rid of them. I don't know where you live, but it must be close to an area someone considered legally available to post a campaign sign. Again, it wasn't necessarily the candidate who erected the sign. Sorry it all upset you. It shouldn't have been done. But to base your vote on these problems is pretty shallow, IMO. I don't think you are that shallow, Scooter.

 

[DFSboy]

While I mostly agree with Andy A., there is one question to consider. Who is responsible for the cause itself? If you entrust your vehicle at an automotive repair business and you get your, then, repaired vehicle returned with grease on the driver seat, who are you going to see to remedy the damage? The technician who carelessly spread the nasty grease on the seat, or business owner/manager? In Scotterbug44?s case Osborne should be considered responsible, regardless. But Like Andy A., I don?t think I would be so quick to trash my vote based entirely on the issue.

 

[Alan Osborne]

Signs and fliers

All,

I take total responsibilty for the fliers and signs. Truth be known, I wish all political signs were outlawed and we had to get elected on debating the issues in public. For the record I have not done one single mailer until yesterday so I find it curious that it was in somebody's mailbox. I will personally come remove any sign that was placed on private property without the owner's permission if they call me at 685-4607 and offer my apology to them. Hundreds of my fliers were taken in lump sum at DFS event July 4th. I know the other candidates would not do this themselves as all have been very cordial to me at the events (except Smith who I've yet to meet). District 5 race has been very clean and I will keep it that way. The Commissioner race is about local issues and not national politics. Commissioners are representatives of the local population and the day they forget it you can vote accordingly. I want to be elected based on my education, track record and desire to do better for our community. If you feel someone can stand up for your rights better than me, I respect your decision. I feel I'm best for that in my heart, if I didn't, I wouldn't be running. Please attend the public forums and meet and talk to me in person, I look forward to this!

Alan Osborne