Two Utah County legislators have collaborated on a survey sent to their constituents that raises the concept of push-polling to new heights.

The survey -- at least on a couple of questions -- is worded to get the response obviously favored by lawmakers sending the questionnaire.

Sen. Margaret Dayton and Rep. Brad Daw, both Orem Republicans, sent the 13-question survey to get constituents' views on issues facing the Legislature. Each question is followed by a list of responses constituents can choose from that best fits their views.

But the 13th question, which focuses on the ethics reform petition most legislators hate, does not include a response that allows constituents to say they favor it.

Respondents can check a box if they prefer to have laws made through the legislative process rather than by initiative; if they are aware that the Ethics Commission has no accountability to anyone and has lifetime appointments; if they are dumb enough to sign the 21-page petition without reading it; and if they would prefer laws that create more transparency in lobbyist activities and that would cap campaign contributions. Constituents are reminded such a law would prevent lower income candidates from running for office.

Question 12 is about the initiative to create an independent commission to make recommendations on redistricting. It asks, "As a taxpayer would you prefer to see redistricting done by recommendations by an unelected redistricting commission (most expensive), regional public meetings (fairly expensive) or by legislators who communicate with their local constituents (least expensive)?"

It seems they have already answered that one for you, doesn't it?

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Count Nebo out » Nebo School District has said "thanks, but no thanks" to the Utah County Republican Party's request to sponsor an essay contest for sixth-graders extolling the greatness of Ronald Reagan.

I wrote Friday about the memo sent to teachers in the Provo School District, letting them know about the contest and its sponsorship by the GOP. The memo noted that all three districts in Utah County were involved. But Nebo, I was told Friday, has declined.

Assistant Superintendent Rick Nielsen said the district has told the party it can advertise the essay contest outside the schools all it wants. And students can participate on their own, if they want. But the district will not aid and abet in those efforts.

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Can happen to anybody » Salt Lake City Councilman Soren Simonsen may have an enlightened sense of crime prevention efforts when he considers law enforcement budgets in the future.

Simonsen's east-side home was burglarized recently while he and his family were vacationing out of town.

That, he says, was traumatic, but his status as a councilman might have solved the crime.

The Salt Lake City Police had gotten a warrant to search a home on an unrelated matter when they recognized Simonsen's I.D. information at the home and knew the homeowners had nothing to do with him. The police contacted him while he was on vacation and he gave them permission to enter his home, where they found rooms that were ransacked and valuables obviously missing.

The personal violation is most unsettling, Simonsen said, as well as the uncertainty about who now has his identity information. He will continue, he says, to work on proposals for a greater police presence in the city.

Paul Rolly is a political columnist. Reach him at prolly@sltrib.com