Push Poll Tactics in Alameda

A push poll this last Friday made waves in Alameda.

The Alameda Journal pointed out that there seems to be a reason the person behind this poll chose Matarrese. The Journal speculates that “Matarrese is the front-runner and, hence, the one worth some smearing.”

John Knox White of the SF Gate blog managed to get a recording of the first question. Click here to take a listen.

The tactics are underhanded, but Knox White’s got it right… unfortunately the push poll makes a few good points. Matarrese is a fence-rider that is adept at the game of politics. He certainly won’t come out in public support of something that will hurt him in an election year, which obviously it is.

But where do his votes lie behind closed doors? One can’t be sure. At least Lena Tam will publicly stand up for what she believes in, instead of engaging in backroom deals. But look where that got her. I have to continue to commend Tam for these efforts, and hope that she keeps fighting for government transparency.

Frank on the other hand, seems to be spending time and effort on initiatives that will help his stats and not what will help out his community, which Lauren Do pointed out in her blog entry yesterday.

As for the City Council race, Tam and Bonta are racking up endorsement after endorsement. Thank goodness. Maybe we’ll get some sense into City Hall after all…