Recall Survey Call Detailed

San Juan Capistrano resident Jim Reardon received this weekend one of the survey calls that Councilman Derek Reeve called a “push-pull poll,” designed to sway the participants’ feelings about the subject matter.

The survey appeared to be supporting Councilman Sam Allevato, who is the target of a recent recall attempt. Allevato, however, said at the City Council meeting Tuesday that he knows nothing of the effort. 

Surprisingly, one of the questions asked for Reardon's impressions … about himself. Reardon is long affiliated with a group of residents critical of the council majority. He currently serves as a trustee for the Capistrano Unified School District. 

That part of the poll was fairly standard, just asking how favorable or unfavorable the resident felt about a long list of San Juan Capistrano public figures, Reardon said.  Then the poll turned more pointed.

As soon as the call – which lasted all of maybe four minutes – ended, Reardon scrambled to write down the questions. Here’s what he remembers being asked:

• Kim McCarthy
• Sam Allevato
• Clint Worthington
• Jim Reardon
• John Perry
• Tony Moiso
• Former Sheriff Brad Gates
• Wyatt Hart
• Derek Reeve

“Not in that order.

“Next, you are asked your impressions of certain things, using the same response scale.

• Rancho Mission Viejo Company
• Community Common Sense
• Capistrano Taxpayers Association
• [One more he couldn’t remember.]

“Next, it starts to get influential in nature,” Reardon said. “You are first asked, ‘If the recall were to happen today, would you vote to recall?’  This was muddled on the phone. The operator started to say “yes” or “no,” instead of ‘favor’ or ‘oppose’ and then she seemed to lose her place. This was fixed, but with my help.

“Then a series of statements are read, after which you are asked following each one, ‘If the recall election were to today, would you vote to recall?’

“My favorite was, ‘Two of the individuals behind the recall are a college professor who was fired for plagiarism and a person who thinks all Mexicans should leave San Juan Capistrano.’” Reardon said these people, presumably referring to Councilman Reeve and former council candidate Kim McCarthy, were not mentioned by name.

“Also, ‘Sam Allevato has fought to preserve open space in the community and supports trails, riding areas and dog park.’ Also, ‘Sam Allevato has fought to fix the problems with the groundwater recovery plant that was approved by the previous council, and to provide San Juan Capistrano with a safe and reliable source of water.

“Also, ‘Sam Allevato is working to provide the city with a reliable independent source of water to protect the city from Metropolitan’s increasing price.’”

Reardon said the company conducting the poll was called Central Surveys. Google has it listed as an Iowa company. He knows of one other resident who received a similar survey call.