Using the list of the candidates from the above linked Toledo Blade I decided to search to see if any of our Lucas County candidates had websites. Talk about being disgusted with both the Democrat and Republican Parties of Lucas County and Ohio. They list NO information as to websites for candidates. The State sites are even worse than the County ones as far as badly needing an update. Contract with Ohio was the only place I could find some information and the majority of Democrats have not signed the Contract with Ohio nor do they have campaign websites/blogs listed. Candidates with ** after their name have signed the Contract with Ohio. I then started searching name by name and found several of the candidate websites that way.
●Ohio House District 6: Democrats Jeffery Bretz of North Baltimore and of Perrysburg and Republican Robert Latta of Bowling Green (incumbent).
●Ohio House District 46: State Rep. Mark Wagoner (R., Ottawa Hills), running unopposed.
●Ohio House District 47: State Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D., Toledo) and Republican Ernest Berry of Toledo.
●Ohio House District 48: State Rep. Edna Brown (D, Toledo) and Republican Carolyn Eyre of Toledo.
●Ohio House District 49: Republican Stephen Hornyak of Oregon and Democrat Matthew Szollosi of Oregon.
●Ohio Senate District 11: State Sen. Teresa Fedor** (D, Toledo) and Republican Chris Mueller of Toledo.
●U.S. House District 5: U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor (R., Old Fort) and Democrat Robin Weirauch** of Napoleon.
●U.S. House District 9: U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) and Republicans Ed Emery of Sylvania, Bradley S. Leavitt of Toledo, and Dirk Kubala of Toledo.
Robin Weirauch in Ohio Congressional District 5 gets my early pick for the best website by a non-incumbent at this point. It's updated, and it's very user friendly. Too bad she's not in my district as I like what I see so far.
These names will be added to the sidebar and as soon as more become available I will update.
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9 comments:
Perhaps they do not see the value of a website as an effective tool for their campaign.
It would be interesting to see national data on the effectiveness of the internet on local campaigns.
I was a political advisor for a local candidate in the November '05 election and we discussed the possibility of a website but the candidate ruled it out.
On Monday I'm meeting with another candidate running in the May primary who wants me to advise him during his run for office. I'll let you know what he thinks about a website.
Politicians are cautious, often too cautious, especially in doing something different and/or new. They like the so-called tried and true: personal contact, door-to-door, doing festivals, lit drops, signs, phone banks, and forums. The Internet isn't a tool that they know to be worthwhile and they would rather put their money and time into the old campaign techniques.
Some people saw Frank Szollosi's blog as a factor in his poor showing in November. Some said that he was too abrupt and defensive with the comments posted there. I doubt that his blog has any real effect on his 6th place finish. My take on this is that he spent very little money on his campaign, deciding that his name recognition would carry him through. He may be saving money for his next political goal which would require much more money.
I agree with you that Frank's blog had very little to do with him coming in 6. From an ease of information point as well as fundraising, I think those candidates that utilize either blogging or website technology do have an edge.
Especially from an information stand point. You see or hear about a candidate, you enter his or her name on a search engine and *voila* you can at least learn some of the basics on them. It is obvious though that neither local or state political parties seems to have much of an interest in providing information or updating regularly on their websites. That to me is a shame because it is an inexpensive and easy way to communicate with prospective voters.
On a national level the internet has been important. Look at the success of Act Blue as one example. Both Republican and Democratic candidates used the internet very successfully when it came to presidential campaigns. I think part of the problem is most local candidates do not realize how easy and inexpensive it can be to provide a nice looking, yet informative blog or website.
Nor do they have to make a campaign blog open for direct comments, there are quite a few blogs out there that have turned away from the comment feature or require comments to be moderated.
I don't feel that the Toledo market is as sophisticated as others in the value of blogging politics. Toledo remains quite old-fashioned in how it obtains information on a candidate.
Perhaps we, who are more web savvy have higher expectations, but the bottom line in NW Ohio is newspapers, signs, fliers, and phone banks, along with union endorsements.
I wouldn't disagree with you that things here are done more traditionally, yet that's part of the reason in pointing it out. If those who do use web resources see the benefit then more will follow.
Take Ben Konop as an example, not only does he have a candidate website but a blog. If you want those who are internet savy to at least consider you (and those numbers in this area are growing) even a small updated web presence could very well be the difference between a win and a loss.
At today's meeting the candidate talked about lit drops, door-to-door, signs, phone banks and attending festivals and other gatherings.
There was no mention of using the internet for his campaign.
Not surprised at all by this.
Maybe if someone like Ben or Robin who are using not only the traditional resources but the non-traditional ones wins the primary it will send the message that others should consider it.
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