Highway Tax Proponents Launch Voter Survey as Part of Campaign

A nine-question survey began arriving in selected voters’ mailboxes Monday as part of the campaign on behalf of a proposed half-cent sales tax for highway and transit projects.

The poll, mailed by Citizens for Yes on M, asks recipients to place blame for the current “traffic crisis” either on elected officials, too much growth, inadequate funds, Caltrans, or poor transportation planning.

The survey may reach more than 700,000 households countywide, according to one campaign official.

Those surveyed are also being asked if they support or oppose construction of diamond (car-pool) lanes and which Orange County freeway is most in need of improvement.

Also, voters are asked whether they oppose all sales tax increases or would support one under various scenarios, including one in which a citizens’ oversight committee monitors how tax revenue is spent. Under Measure M, such a committee would be formed.

The questionnaire also asks whether traffic improvement plans, growth management or both are “important to preserve the quality of life in Orange County.”

Bruce Nestande, a former county supervisor and state transportation commissioner who is chairing the pro-Measure M campaign, said the questionnaire will help determine “where our vote is, and how to get it to the polls” in the Nov. 7 countywide tax election.

For example, Nestande said, campaign officials want to know if some groups are more responsive to the issue of having a citizens’ watchdog committee oversee transportation tax spending than others, and whether the growth management regulations contained in Measure M are a better selling point with some people than the traffic improvements.

The survey follows a week of radio ads urging poll recipients to fill out the forms and mail them back.

Supervisor Don R. Roth has criticized the 60-second spots for stating that “the politicians have failed,” although he said Monday he still strongly supports Measure M.

Russ Burkett of San Juan Capistrano, a critic of Measure M, said opponents will request free equal time from radio stations once radio ads urge listeners to vote for it.

Measure M would raise $3.1 billion for traffic improvements over 20 years.