Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Homeless feeding questioned Disc golf course coming to Cave Junction park Human remains found in burning trailer Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service Barn fire may have been human-caused Emergency services Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home Politics and Elections Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Falls: Jackson County sheriff's race isn't over Former sheriff calls Winters' retirement decision 'very wise' Will 'GMO effect' shape election? Education EP school district launches new app Striving to make the grade Fresh produce goes home with Jackson Elementary families State mandates eye exams for kids 7 and younger Eagle Point School District goes silent on gun issue Environment Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters State news Nation - World Obituaries Calvin Schaefer Norma Mae Prilliman Elizabeth Anne Jones Jesse Jay Gilchrist Lorraine Antcha Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories South rebounds with rout of Roseburg Ashland drops MWL boys match to Churchill Hay rallies Pirates past Henley Gadget play gives Grizz win over Comets GP dashes North’s hopes Varsity 541 College Sports Stanford cruises past Washington State High stakes for No. 12 Oregon, No. 18 UCLA Raider men win handily Raiders shut out Eastern Oregon Georgia star Gurley suspended for alleged violation Pro Sports Gordon-led Royals beat Orioles 8-6 in ALCS Donovan hits post in US swan song Birdie binge puts Laird in front at Frys.com Giants-Cards: Here we go again in NLCS Colts hold on for 33-28 win over Texans Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ranchers offer livestock exchange Lithia buys Clovis dealership Blog: When Life Gives You Lemons... Medford airport has busiest September ever County hopes to spur renewable energy Real Estate News Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters People In Business Transportation Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Opinion Latest Election Letters, Oct.11 Another View: Congress must act on firefighting budget Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Matthew T. Mangino: Trials, pleas and the burden of proof: A search for justice Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Editorials Another View: Congress must act on firefighting budget Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Measure 86 would allow a prudent investment Our View: Top-two primary would empower more voters Letters to the Editor Election Letters, Oct.11 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 8 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 7 Guest Opinions Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Siskiyou Plus Spring Bear Hunt: What lies beneath? Guest Opinion: Who's to blame for 2014 wildfires? Guest Opinion: Measure 91 will snuff out local tax measures Is Ashland taking over Jackson County elections? Lifestyle Latest stories Nibbling away at the Earth Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Name that wolf Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Food Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Community blog: Kicking it off, a game, a season, or a pint (How about all the above?) Apples and pears make great autumn duo Community blog: Cardamom makes proverbial pairing with pears New owners bring new philosophy at 2Hawk Home and Garden How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Dear Monty: 7 prepping tips for home showings Harvest your frost-tender tomatoes for storage Fall is a good time to plant certain perennials Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Health Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Dr. Murray Feingold: Take precautions to prevent home accidents Health Watch: Make TV time workout time Community blog: Do We Need Steps For Health? Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Wedding New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Agave offers tasty tacos Call for musicians Works in progress A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Theater Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Music Benefit for Nita Day at The Wild Goose Cafe in Ashland Call for musicians A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Rogue Valley Symphony season debut combines virtuosity, emotion Community Events Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Dining Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Human remains found in burning trailer ... Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Human remains found in burning trailer ... Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Voter survey angers GMO measure opponents 11th-hour voter survey angers opponents of GMO ballot measure Opponents of a measure to ban genetically modified crops in Jackson County question the "outrageous" timing of a survey mailed this week to 24,000 registered Jackson County voters and supported by the Oregon Secretary of State's office. By Sam Wheeler MailTribune.com By Sam Wheeler Posted May. 18, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Sam Wheeler Posted May. 18, 2014 @ 12:01 am » RELATED CONTENT • Survey on Citizen Initiative Review of Measure 15-119 » Social News Opponents of a measure to ban genetically modified crops in Jackson County question the "outrageous" timing of a survey mailed this week to 24,000 registered Jackson County voters and supported by the Oregon Secretary of State's office. "The timing of this 'voter survey' just days before an election is outrageous, confusing and unnecessary," Good Neighbor Farmers, a political action committee opposed to Measure 15-119, said in a release. The survey is a research follow-up to a Citizens' Initiative Review of Measure 15-119 conducted in April. The survey asks voters whether they agree with statements ranging from "We should embrace the use of genetically modified foods even if they involve a small amount of scientific uncertainty" to "The prosperity of local farmers is more important than the rights of corporations to grow genetically engineered crops." The survey also asks residents how they planned to vote on measures 15-119 and 15-121, which would create an extension service district, whether they were aware of the Citizens' Initiative Review and whether the CIR was helpful to them in deciding how to vote, among other questions. Good Neighbor Farmers issued a press release Wednesday accusing Secretary of State Kate Brown of attempting to sway the local election in favor of the measure that would ban growing GMO plants in Jackson County. Brown wrote a cover letter promoting the survey by asking voters to complete it, and that is where her involvement stops, said Tony Green, a spokesman in Brown's office. "The secretary of state is very respectful of voters' concerns, she understands that people feel very strongly about the initiative. ... Her participation was entirely about making the Citizens' Initiative Review process stronger," Green said. Penn State University professor John Gastil, who wrote the survey and is leading a research effort started in 2010 and focused on Oregon's Citizens' Initiative Review, said 24,000 copies of the 29-question survey were mailed to voters in Jackson County. When non-partisan, nonprofit Healthy Democracy Oregon gathered 20 randomly selected Jackson County voters to evaluate contentious claims surrounding 15-119, with a goal of providing a realistic picture of what the proposal will and won't do, it marked the first time the CIR process had been tried at the local level. State law limits the CIR process to state general election issues if it is run on behalf of the Oregon Citizens' Initiative Review Commission. Healthy Democracy Oregon was able to employ the process independently in Jackson County using charitable donations as funding, said its executive director, Tyrone Reitman. Ian Tolleson, a spokesman for Good Neighbor Farmers PAC, said the survey's timing was "very suspect." "The secretary of state definitely has every right to see how the voting has worked after the election, I just don't know why you would put this type of information out there beforehand," he said. "I think when people see stuff like this it's a little odd." Gastil said he understands why people may have been caught off-guard by the survey, but insists it is not politically motivated nor biased toward either side of the issue. "It's scholarly research, the purpose is to understand the electoral process, and understand election reform in Oregon. ... I think election reforms like (CIR) have great potential, but reforms like this must be tested empirically," Gastil said. "It was probably a little startling to get this survey for your county election, but these types of surveys happen all the time on state and national levels ... this is how election surveys are actually done." Gastil said mailing the survey prior to the primary election's May 20 deadline was crucial to receiving authentic and credible responses from participants, because election issues are still fresh in the minds of voters. "Once you're done voting that is not what your brain is focused on any longer; your brain moves on," he said. Green said the Secretary of State's Office received several complaints from survey recipients on both sides of the issue — mostly about the timing of the survey, and some about its questions. Registered voter Cedric Buckingham, of Medford, said he received the survey Monday and felt it was biased in favor of Ballot Measure 19-115. "As I started to read through it, I was concerned. I felt that most of the questions were pretty biased," Buckingham said. "If that thing would have came out after the election, I wouldn't have thought twice about it." Elise Higley, director of Our Family Farm Coalition, a Medford-based political action committee in support of 15-119, said she didn't see any problem with the survey. "I don't see anything in particular of concern at all," she said. "To me it seems pretty neutral." Her office fielded a few calls from voters concerned about what the survey's purpose is, but it didn't raise any red flags, she said. State Rep. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, said in an email to the Mail Tribune, "An investigation is needed to determine what violations might have occurred" by Brown endorsing the survey. Portland-based MDC Research mailed the survey on behalf of Gastil and will conduct its analysis, Gastil said. The ongoing research on the CIR process is funded entirely by a National Science Foundation grant split between research departments at Penn State and Colorado State universities, he said. Reach reporter Sam Wheeler at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/swhlr. By Sam Wheeler MailTribune.com By Sam Wheeler Posted May. 18, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501