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Wednesday, January 27, 1999     Page: 2A

Mystery poll becomes courthouse puz zle
   
It was a big part of the political scuttlebutt: A recent poll will play a
big part in determining the Democratic ticket for commissionerBut no one-
including the party chairman and the party’s longtime political consultant-
admits to firsthand knowledge of a poll.
    On Tuesday, a handful of courthouse employees said Commissioner’s Frank
Crossin’s decision not to run clashes with poll results that said he could
win. Oth ers have heard the results were bad for Crossin. One worker heard
both versions.
   
“The rumor is that the poll came out that if Frank ran, he would win,” one
elected official said.
   
Many at the courthouse say Ed Mitchell, a long-time consultant to
Democrats, including Crossin, oversaw the poll. He declined to comment, saying
it would break client confidentiality if he said whether he was involved in a
poll.
   
Party Chairman Jim Bach, the county deputy treasurer, has repeatedly said
he is not involved in a poll. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
   
Crossin and Tom Makowski, the other Democratic commissioner, have
repeatedly declined to comment.-
   
Melissa Janoski