Sources tell the East Orlando Post that the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce had a poll conducted and are now burying the results.
By Jacob Engels
A few days ago we received intel from a source that told us the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Chamber of Commerce & United for Orange County commissioned a poll from Consensus Communications to find out where voters stood on Question C – the amendment that would require charter offices in Orange County to become partisan instead of staying non-partisan.
Essentially, candidates would have the party that they are registered with displayed next to their name like all other elected offices and could openly campaign as Republican, Democrat, etc. The move has been opposed by the Orange County GOP and conservatives in the area. United for Orange County is a political committee opposing Question C.
Democrats now outnumber Republicans by over 100,000 and that has many in the GOP worried that Question C will hurt their chances in future elections. The amendment has received support from Democrats, liberal interests, and several non-partisan groups.
The poll which was conducted in the past 2 weeks, showed Question C well above the 50% threshold it needs to pass. Business leaders who were behind the push for the survey were expecting to see the amendment under 50% and planned on releasing the results according to staffer who was involved in relaying information about the execution and results of the poll.
“They slanted the sampling to include a more conservative pool of likely voters and thought that would help push support for the amendment under 50%, but obviously it didn’t or they would have released it.”
We’ve made over 3 phone calls to both the Orlando Chamber of Commerce and Consensus Communications asking for them to release or comment on the findings, but have been unsuccessful in finding someone willing to publicly address the results or even acknowledge it’s existence.
Dana Loncar, who works for Consensus Communications also also serves as Treasurer for United for Orange County which commissioned the poll – not like that’s a conflict of interest at all right?
SIDE NOTE – The poll sampling was heavily slanted in order to serve the purposes of the No on C crowd, but even conservative voters found themselves supporting the measure. How embarrassing for Dana Loncar, who can’t even deliver the “bought” results her bosses at Consensus and United for Orange County wanted. Talk about being impotent.
United for Orange County has spent over $70,000 on consulting fees with Consensus, with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, developer Jim Pugh, and other business minded groups writing hefty 5 figure checks to the group – according to information made available on the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website.
With less than 3 days before the election, voters should think about all of the behind the scenes hijinks going on with Consensus Communications and the Orlando Chamber. What’s so scary to these groups about voters knowing whether or not they are voting for a Republican or Democrat?
Jacob Engels, is the Founder of East Orlando Post & Seminole County Post. He is a seasoned political operative who has led numerous statewide political groups and has worked on several high-profile local, statewide, and national races. Jacob has been interviewed on national television & radio programs, with his work having been featured in the Orlando Sentinel, New York Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald and other publications nationwide. He can be reached at info@eastorlandopost.com
