Blogs are Bringing SexyBack to City Elections
Decatur Metro | November 10, 2009In an interview with a newspaper, Fred Boykin credited “the blogs” for making this most recent election cycle “more interesting.”
This race by far was the most eventful for Boykin, who ran unopposed in 2001.
“This election was different because of the blogs,” Boykin said. “Some of the electronic media made it more interesting. There was more information going back and forth that was covered in more detail than with the traditional media. The anonymity of the blogs made it a little mean spirited at times.”
Aside from the occasional sniping on the blogs, Boykin said the Internet made fact-based information such as campaign finance reports available more quickly, which was beneficial.
Two years ago, I couldn’t for the life of me determine any notable differences between the candidates running for office. There may have been unspoken, behind-closed-door differences, but that didn’t help this resident who couldn’t hear beyond the doorjamb. Hopefully the public dialogue this time around helped people make more informed decisions in their respective races.
I also hope the candidates’ extended foray into interactive media will make them – and other public officials – more comfortable with using it in the future. We’ve come a long way in just two years and I think we’ve proven the added value of an easily accessible, public online environment, regardless of the occasional “sniping”.
Dare I say it, but the community blogs of today have a higher calling than just trying to fill any newspaper gap. They should strive to take their “community service” to a new level, providing not just a platform for stories (well-written or not), but also informed discussion on a city, town or region’s most pressing issues.
h/t: InDecatur
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First off, DM, thanks for bringing sexyback. Our local politics have been reeling from a lack of sexiness.
Fred’s comments are interesting in that they point out the yin and yang of blog influence. On the one hand, they/you educate voters and allow us to set the conversation by identifying the things we’re concerned about or want to hear more from candidates on. Wise candidates were surely listening and responding as they saw fit. This is a power voters have not always had. But on the other hand, such forums facilitate the sort of anonymous or semi-anonymous mean-spiritedness Fred refers to.
There was a lot of talk here about “negativity” after election day, but I met, spent time with or otherwise observed campaigning every candidate this year and can honestly say I never really heard anything remotely negative from any of them. I think the after-the-fact anger about negativity had more to do with us here in this forum than it did the candidates themselves. DM provided us information and a place to talk about it, but it also empowered us to express our political choices and beliefs — sometimes, perhaps, a bit too aggressively. It’s a double edged sword, fo’ sho’.
It will be interesting is whether Fred will maintain his presence here on DM or whether his comments was just an election year occurrence.
I think Fred’s silence since Nov 3 speaks for itself.
So, Pete, what you’re saying is, since Fred hasn’t posted anything on DM in the last seven days means he won’t maintain his presence here? Could it be he is busy doing the job he was elected to do? Maybe taking a vacation? Has a sick family member? Or maybe he is contributing to DM, just under another name. Or contirbuting to other local blogs, since DM isn’t the only one?
In other words, I think it’s a bit mean-spiritied to assume that since you haven’t seen someone named Fred Boykin post here in the last week that he has already written off the residents of Decatur.
Well, I’ve talked with Fred since election day, and I think he was taken aback by some of the negative sniping. He felt that if he continued to respond to some of the attacks, it would perpetuate themto no avail. So he’s deliberately keeping a low profile.
And yes, Fred does have a job, a business to run, children and a job on the city commission. I think he does read what is on this blog.
I’ve always found Fred, and other elected officials in this town, to be very responsive to constituents. That doesn’t mean he’s going to agree with everything everyone asks him to do.
Posting is different from reading and paying attention. I can also imagine a public figure wanting to post in his or her own name for some purposes and anonymously for other purposes. So it’s hard to speculate. Any local politician with a grain of sense keeps an eye on this blog.
I think sites like this, and this one in particular, really do change the political landscape in Decatur. Without them, it’s very hard to stay informed about local political issues, particularly their controversial aspects. And unlike most national politics blogs, there isn’t just one party-line echo heard here. There’s real, informed debate, and generally pretty friendly — even among you anonymous-types!
Agreed. There are plenty of perfectly good reasons for a political figure not to jump into the anonymous commenting pool. But there are other ways for them to stay informed and involved in the process.
Two years ago, I was trying to shake the perception that this was just a incendiary rumor mill. And with a little persistence and cooperation from various important city factions, I think we’ve pretty much moved beyond that criticism.
Came for the info; stayed for the show.
The blogs were very helpful in making my voting decisions for school board. The glimpses into the minds of some of my Decatur neighbors have been most fascinating!
[ Fred's most likely very busy playing catch-up at his day job.]
Is ‘sexyback’ a new kind of bacon? If it is, then I’m up for some.
Would it be too much to ask for some insightful local copy on who got elected in Decatur and what that should mean for us average folk? What, if anything, should we expect to change?
This election means that people are interested in what is happening in their city.
Turnout was pretty high for a municipal election. All the city commission races were contested and there was a vigorous debate over who was best qualified to serve in those seats.
Two of the school board seats were contested, the citywide seat and the northside seat. Unlike the commission races the candidates who contested the “ins” brought what they considered to be real issues to the discussion. For that they really must be commended.
As for change, don’t expect any. Except, of course, changes imposed by the State Legislature in the way the city and school board are allowed to collect and spend money. State revenues are WAY down and there have been on going discussions amongst the legislative leadership to change the property tax system in general with an eye towards scrapping it on the basis inequality. Money is extremely tight for the state and the city. Participate in the budget hearings and let your representatives hear your voices.
Here’s to hoping that the very close School Board elections, closest in the last 8-10 years, were a wake-up call to all five incumbents. The School Board has been insulated, talking to itself and its supporters and the CSD Central Office, not realizing how many different issues have arisen in their system–at the system level, with Central Office staff, in particular schools, with programs, and with muzzled school leadership teams, among just a few. If School Board members haven’t heard the message that there are many varied, deep, and widespread concerns, they never will. The votes for challengers weren’t about disrespecting the incumbents or the ancient history of 2004, it was vote FOR fresh voices with a proven record of school and community involvement that were in touch with CURRENT issues among CSD stakeholders. If the Board is wise, it will keep its campaign promises to get in touch with all the voters, including the half (ok, 49.417%) who voted against at least one of the incumbents, and empower and encourage the school leadership teams. Up until now, the SLTs have been over-controlled from the Central Office and ignored by the Board instead of being encouraged and empowered. Hopefully, the Board now sees the wisdom of encouraging the SLTs to use their authority and responsibilities as defined by the Charter so that a meaningful mechanism exists for community, parent, and teacher input and involvement. Without that, the only way for concerns to be truly heard was the vote. The Board would also be wise to use town hall meetings, Decatur EdTV, surveys (paper as well as electronic so no one is left out because of access), and maybe even blogs to do two things: 1) Engage and listen to parents, teachers, principals, and the community and 2) Show that they trust their constituents. Marc Wisniewski used to talk about having town hall meetings–it’s time to revive that idea but make it even better with the ability of Decatur EdTV and other media to reach more stakeholders beyond attendees and to disseminate the discussion and resultant action steps.
I’m still around, but don’t plan to post as much. Last week (after the election) was clean up time, gathering up yard signs, writing thank you notes, and shutting down the campaign.
So far this week, I attended Monday night’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to hear the conversation on the W. Ponce restaurant application and also the 1,600 sq. foot garage application. Tonight I made a presentation to the Sierra Club on Decatur’s Community Transportation Plan.
Wednesday night is a meeting of a local bicycle users group and Thursday night is the meeting for the RR/intersections. Friday night is my daughter’s first dance at Renfroe and I got volunteered for clean-up duty. Saturdays I work at the store.
Sometimes I read the blogs, but don’t post. Plus I’m spending any spare time I have reading up on the past planning documents we’ve used so far. Also talking to the folks who are still around and were involved in the original 1982 Town Center Plan. I’m very curious to hear their reaction to how the plan turned out so far. Did it meet their expectations? What worked; what didn’t. What would they do differently? Decatur is about to revise its Strategic Plan and I’ve been meeting with the condo associations for their take on urban living. I still have three condos to go.
I think a lot of issues (like the concept of shared parking) will get folded into the discussions of the Strategic Plan and I encourage residents to participate.
Thank you for the update, Fred. This type of communication from electeds is great- I may not necessarily go to individual’s blogs, but an occasional update here will definitely catch (my) attention. Knowing where commissioners are going to be ahead of time is great too– is there somewhere this info is already posted in a consolidated manner? (not regularly scheduled board meetings, but community group opps, etc) If not, DM, something fun for this site that those submitting items could self-post/list?
That’s a great idea macarolina. The trick would be getting buy-in (though a busy commish certainly wouldn’t mind the free publicity showing that they were busy serving the community) and figuring out how to incorporate it into the site.
I’ll certainly keep it in mind going forward.
Fred:
I was very involved in the Town Center planning process and have been a little disappointed by the lack of response to your earlier challenge requesting evaluative comments. I have thought a lot about that but have been remiss about publicly stating my opinions and being involved other then through this blog.
So, what do suggest as a mechanism for further conversation about this?
Please call me. I’d like to meet someplace and hear what you have to say. I’m trying to track down and meet with as many folks as I can that were involved in either the first plan or the update (1989 I think).
My cell is 404-668-4274.
I will do that. Thanks!
Just want to point out that it is quite generous of Fred to post his thoughts and his number. First class, I’d say.