Committee co-chair denies improper poll

The co-chair of the Sustainable Growth Committee denied she intended any disrespect when she said a Gardnerville Ranchos developer has "had his hand in the cookie jar for years."

In a letter to The Record-Courier, Gardnerville resident Mike Wiley, a Greg Lynn supporter, said he plans to contact the Nevada Secretary of State's Office to complain about Judy Sturgis's phone call.

Wiley said that Sturgis called him on July 18 and identified herself. She asked him who he was going to vote for.

"During the conversation, I mentioned that I do not support the SGC, as its methods are repressive, and that I intended to vote for Greg Lynn for District 1 commissioner," Wiley wrote in a letter, which appears in today's R-C. "Her response was, verbatim, "Oh, he's had his hands in the cookie jar for years."

Sturgis said she has been calling people and encouraging them to vote for candidates backed by the Sustainable Growth Committee

"I'm shocked," she said. "The cookie jar thing is not about anything but master plan amendments. I never, ever implied anything but that."

Sturgis said she doesn't agree that she's conducting a persuasive poll.

"We identify ourselves and say on whose behalf we're calling on," Sturgis said. "When people ask questions, I respond to them."

Under Nevada law, a persuasive poll is illegal if it fails to identify the candidate it is being conducted for.

Sturgis said her point was that Lynn is a developer and has received master plan amendments and it would be difficult for him to vote against a master plan amendment.

Sturgis provided a copy of her script to The Record-Courier and the Nevada Secretary of State's Office.