Challenge: Rally voters in support of San Diego ballot measures.

The City of San Diego was characterized in 2005 as “Enron by the Sea,” beset by nearly $2 billion in previously undisclosed debt, stripped of its credit rating by the investment community, and rocked by criminal indictments and removal from office of three City Council members. Against this backdrop, the San Diego City Council placed three reform measures on the ballot for the June 3, 2008 election.

Propositions A, B and C would exempt firefighters, police officers and lifeguards from managed competition, mandate a mayoral veto, and create an independent auditor. With these propositions on the ballot, city leaders needed a smart campaign to ensure passage.

BNA Solution

Starting with polling and focus group research, we created a comprehensive campaign that included grassroots and grasstops engagement, voter targeting, email, direct mail, and direct voter contact.

Result

Voters overwhelmingly supported the measures on Election Day. The final results – Proposition A passed with 68%, Proposition B passed with 77% and Proposition C passed with 63%.