As a concerned citizen and paid consultant for the Ben for Mayor campaign, I respect Tribune managing editor Terry Orme for apologizing for the Tribune's pollster, Mason-Dixon ("Flawed poll tainted our final-days election coverage," Tribune, Nov. 10).
Orme's insights into what went on in the newsroom were insightful. The Tribune has done a respectful job reporting on the process, competing polls and self-doubts about data it suspected was flawed.
I only take exception to Orme's statement: "If you look at all the races," the polling firm "has called for us, his track record is solid."
Not only did the Florida-based Mason-Dixon pollster miss Salt Lake County's McAdams/Crockett mayoral race by at first 20 points, then a revised 10 points, it missed the 4th District's Matheson/Love race by 12, then 7 points.
In previous years, it predicted:
• A slim 51 percent victory for Sheriff Jim Winder in 2006. Winder won 64-37.
• A narrow win for the voucher referendum in 2007. It lost 68-32.
• A Randy Horiuchi loss in 2008 by 4.5 points. Horiuchi won by 11 points.
Clearly, a new polling firm is needed, one that understands our market.
Thanks for your honesty.
Tom Love President, Love Communications
Salt Lake City