‘Unconditional Surrender’ Statue Poll Results Skewed: Report

SARASOTA, FL — The results of a recent poll conducted by the city of Sarasota regarding the future home of the “Unconditional Surrender” statue are inaccurate, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

The survey, conducted through the city’s website using Survey Monkey, drew more than 10,000 responses. The question was whether the 25-foot-tall statue of a U.S. Navy sailor kissing a nurse should be moved from its current location near Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota. Voters were asked to consider nine potential sites.

The move was first suggested in August as a temporary relocation due to the planned construction of a roundabout at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue, Longboat Key News reported. But some, including Sarasota’s Public Art Committee, believe it should be moved permanently.

Nearly 40 percent of the votes submitted indicated the statue should be moved to the Bayfront between O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill and Marina Jack, Longboat Key News said. The next two popular choices were Ken Thompson Park, which received 21 percent of the vote, and the entrance of Bayfront Park in front of O’Leary’s Tiki Bar, which received nearly 17 percent of the vote.

The Herald-Tribune reports that thousands of the votes cast in this poll came from just a few computers, though. In fact, it’s reported that a single IP address voted to move the statue to Ken Thompson Park 1,566 times from Sept. 19 and 21. Results for almost all bayfront options listed were compromised, the Herald-Tribune added.

“The intent (of the survey) was to collect general community sentiment and present that information to city commissioners as one of many factors to be considered during their decision-making process,” Sarasota spokesman Jason Bartolone told the Herald-Tribune. “The results were generally consistent with other public feedback the city has received.”

The Public Art Committee hoped to move the statue to the Sahib Shriners on Beneva Road. The statue was first installed in 2009.