Chattanooga: Mayor, council candidates campaign online

The use of the Internet by President-elect Barack Obama during his campaign has now trickled down into local politics as more candidates look toward social networking, interactive Web sites and text messaging.

From the mayoral race to City Council races on the March 3 ballot, candidates are trying to reach voters in new and faster ways, campaign officials said.

“I think Obama and his campaign raised the bar for communication on the Internet,” said Mayor Ron Littlefield, who is running for re-election.

Some candidates have Web pages, started pages on social networking sites such as Facebook or My Space, and used Twitter, which instantly sends text posts to others who’ve signed up to receive them, including on cell phones.

Younger voters almost demand that type of accessibility, candidates say.

In the mayor’s race, Mr. Littlefield has posted a Web site that has links for donations, a biography and how to sign up for e-mail updates. Two of his competitors in the race, Rob Healy and Joe Lance, have their own Web sites and both have Facebook pages.

Using such technology “makes you appear to be a viable candidate,” District 3 City Council candidate Pam Ladd said. “You’ve got to be part of that market now.”

She’ll be launching her Web site within the week, she said, and already has a Facebook page.

Her challenger, George Patten, has his own Web site where he runs blog postings on his thoughts on different issues.

“I don’t know if I’m getting very many hits, but I’m using it,” he said.

Dr. Bob Swansbrough, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said using the Web sites and social networking sites would have little effect on local campaigns. There is more interest in presidential elections than local ones and, historically, more older voters participate in local elections, he said.

“Obama was kind of a unique phenomenon,” he said. “Obviously, everyone would like to latch onto what he did. On a local level, I think it’s going to take more time to get off the ground.”

Bo Chamberlan, co-campaign manager for Mr. Healy’s campaign, said the idea of using technology is to be as interactive with voters as possible.

“It allows people to get to Rob,” he said. “It makes them feel a part.”

Facebook pages allow the campaign to organize rapidly because volunteers and other workers can sign up right there, he said. His campaign also is trying to get cell phone numbers so it can text volunteers and anyone interested in the latest campaign news.

Mr. Lance also has been using technology by blogging on his Web site. On Friday, Mr. Lance continually updated his messages on Facebook, used Twitter to send out his ideas for the city and carried ongoing conversations throughout the day with potential voters.

“The key is interactive,” he said. “It gives people a real emphasis on being involved.”

Council Chairwoman Linda Bennett, who is running in District 1 against challengers Joe Graham and Deborah Scott, said she posted a Facebook page last week.

“It’s obvious this is the trend of the future,” she said. “We have a responsibility to communicate to the voters.”

She said she hopes even after the election, if she is re-elected, she can use the Facebook page to remain in contact with her constituents.

District 8 City Council candidates Dennis Clark and Andrae McGary have also placed an emphasis on interactive Web sites and Facebook pages. Mr. Clark, 25, and Mr. McGary, 29, are facing incumbent Councilman Leamon Pierce.

Mr. Pierce, 67, doesn’t have a Web site or Facebook account. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.

Mr. Clark said the Web site can help with fundraising and rallying volunteers. But the technology acts only as one part of the campaign, he said, and volunteers still need to knock on actual doors.

“Our Web site is just a subsidiary,” he said.

Mr. McGary said he’s seen a handful of people volunteer and donate since his Web site went up. But it’s still good to have that option available for potential voters, he said.

At the same time, candidates must be careful not to overload on technology, he said.

“There’s a slew of things you want to try, but you don’t want to do them just to do them,” he said.