Candidates use Internet as key tool

Dothan politics have entered the technology age.

After the 2008 U.S. presidential election, which saw unprecedented use of the Internet by the candidates, local politicians are embracing new technologies.

While candidates in political races have been starting their own Web sites for years, now several are using Web sites like Facebook and Twitter to meet potential voters and spread their campaign messages.

Both Dothan mayoral candidates have Facebook accounts, and Facebook accounts or campaign groups also exist for the candidates for Dothan City School Board chair.

“I started (http://www.keithseagle.com) two years ago, and I’ve since then added a presence on Facebook for more timely updates,” said mayoral candidate Keith Seagle. “The biggest use has been e-mail. I think all of this makes us more responsive to the people.”

According to a January study released by Ohio State University, nearly 67 percent of Americans used online media for campaign information last year, and a BBC article attributed President Barack Obama’s success in the Democratic primaries to a superior online presence.

That lesson hasn’t been forgotten by local politicians.

“We’ve got Facebook and Flicker accounts, we use streaming video on our Web site, and, of course, we’ve got YouTube,” said mayoral contender Mike Schmitz, the namesake of http://www.mike4dothan.com.

“We’re getting a lot of younger folks, because that’s how they find out about their candidates. If you’re gonna be a candidate in today’s world, you better have the technology that goes with it.”

The Internet is not only effective at reaching a wide range of voters, but it is also cheaper than traditional campaigning methods.

The BBC article, published last June, said the Internet favors “the outsider,” making it easier for candidates with less money to compete for positions.

“With campaigning, it’s opened up opportunities to contribute for people that I don’t think otherwise would have or could have contributed,” Seagle said.

The challenge for the candidates is to keep up with the evolving technological environment.

“We look at it every day and see what we can add,” Schmitz said. “For young folks, things change all the time, and we’re trying to keep up with that.”