By Pepper Parr with excerpts from Brian Heagle’s Facebook page.
BURLINGTON, ON August 9, 2010 – Interest in the provincial election has begun to heat up. The candidates have opened up their campaign offices and before long you will see them at your door. All three political parties are holding BBQ events and fund raisers and we can expect to see lawns on signs in the near future.
My colleague, and frequent subject of news stories, Brian Heagle, has asked: “Do you think social media will really make a difference in the upcoming Provincial election? In Burlington’s case, none of the candidates have much of a presence, commitment or following – so far.”
As you may know, Liberal’s Karmel Sakran’s website has been up and running for awhile, but I haven’t found a specific one yet for NDP’s Peggy Russell.
Peggy Russell wants to bring her ten years of political experience at a school board trustee to the provincial legislature. If she manages to win the seat she will be a voice to be reckoned with – if she wins.
At present, Burlington voters will find little in terms of local issues being highlighted (although Liberal’s News section does include some items/links, including “hospitals, not highways” messaging). In terms of local candidates, voters may also have to dig deeper than websites if they really want to know and compare them (Liberal’s Biography offers a few brief details but PC’s Bio is somewhat vague, including references to “community leader” and “self-educated entrepreneur” but without providing leadership or business positions held).
In other words, it seems media types will be heavily reliant on Our Burlington to be informed and engaged. Of course, it’s also up to us citizens to step forward, get engaged and then vote. Too often we seem to neglect that part of the civic engagement formula for elections.
However, social media may not be at a stage yet where it will have much influence, at least not in Burlington. Lots of thoughtful comments on my Facebook page when I posted this week about the role of social media in politics.
Cory Judson, campaign manger for Peggy Russell the NDP candidate tends to not let a day go by without sending out half a dozen notes to his friends. It can get a little much at times but he is an NDP trooper and nothing is going to stop him.
Sakran has all kinds of community experience that should serve him well and he has made inroads with the Conservative crowd in the city. Will that be enough to deliver a seat to the Liberals that the Conservatives have held for more than 43 years?
A recent research report said Small Business people are not all that keen on Social Media and that 47% don’t make any use of it. Suggesting that political campaigns are similar to a small business operation isn’t that much of a stretch
It isn’t clear yet what the over riding issue is going to be for the Burlington and Halton ridings –although the Niagara to Greater Toronto Area highway (NGTA) is certainly going to be front and center.
Some elections turn out to be a battle between the leaders; others are about clear cut issues province wide. That doesn’t seem to be the case yet – we probably won’t know until Labour Day. Burlington’s Strategic Plan is going to have NGTA stamped all over the thing.
McKenna said at her nomination that she had 71 days to win the provincial election – that’s certainly a challenge for an untested candidate but she has Ron Foxcroft and Keith Strong in her corner – and those two are certainly not political lightweights.
So Heagle asks: Okay, Burlington, is this single local issue (the proposed NGTA highway) enough to sway your vote on October 6? Jane McKenna, the Burlington Progressive Conservative candidate supports her Leader’s position – build a highway through the Escarpment because it will create jobs. The Liberals have promised not the build a highway through the Escarpment. The NDP doesn’t want the high built.
Full disclosure: Brian Heagle has run as a municipal candidate and put himself forward as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative nomination but withdrew before the nomination meeting was held. Heagle was at one point being groomed as a Liberal candidate by the late John Boich.
[retweet]
