The folks who attended the Blogger Conference on Saturday got a sneak preview of County Commissioner Mike Barber's campaign website.  Both the candidate and the site's developer, Roch Smith, Jr., were in attendance, so it seemed an appropriate time to unveil it.

During some conversations I had with Mike after the conference it became evident that he "gets" blogging.... both as a campaign and a governance tool.  We talked about the clarity that a blog can bring to bear on issues simply because the blog medium forces a candidate or office holder to put his/her thoughts on "paper" for all to see and to be held accountable for.   A blog is a huge step for a traditional politician, but one that each will have to take in the near future in my, and others', opinions.

Mike's site does not include a blog.  During our initial conversation when he solicited my support and input he was concerned about how much time a blog can consume.  My answer was "a lot, to do it right".  Having precious little of that time thing, Mike didn't want to offer voters a half-assed blog, so he settled on a site-dedicated "discussion forum". 

Even though it's not a blog, how the forum serves Barber's campaign will still depend on the written word entered by the candidate himself.  If he uses it to state a position, then solicit input and discussion - it will be very effective.  Then, when something interesting happens at the forum, I'm sure the local blogs and the media will pick up on it and drive some readership and even more discussion.  However, if the discussion is bland and boring and non-controversial or un-informative, the format will fail as a tool for winning votes and influencing people.

Ok, let's see how it goes....  I just posted this question to Mike over at his forum:  "As it stands right now, do you plan to vote for or against the scenic corridor designation including a billboard ban on the Urban Loop?"

Let the forum begin.

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As an aside:  Not to be outdone by his Republican opponent Mike Winstead Jr, Barber went and had his obligatory picture taken with GOP operative and Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes just like Winstead did.  What a hoot.

If I decide to run for City Council again in '05 I have decided on my my first campaign pledge:  "I promise to never have my picture intentionally taken with the good and popular B.J. Barnes".  Not that I don't like the man mind you, it's just that, well... I don't know.... just because.

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Update 9/3/04: ABC of Guilford County Director Michael Murphree responds to his organizations role in opposing the Federal Grant: 

"...We were clear from day one that we were opposed to the use of Federal tax dollars to fund a program such as the High Point Choice Plan. It was fraught with errors in planning and execution, with or without the grant (witness the recent bus fiasco). We were also clear that we would lobby against the funding of the grant.... "  Read the whole thing.

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ABC of Guilford County spokesman Tim Mann emailed and asked me to offer you his response to my "Vinegar" post.  Happy to oblige.  I am also posting my full reply back to Tim here.

Even though I never stated that ABC had a direct hand in why GCS didn't get the $12M grant, I wrote to Tim that it was my understanding that the denial of the grant was exactly what the group was working for behind the scenes. 

If my take is correct, I don't understand why they don't praise GCS hires who bungled the application and dance in the streets.  If my take is erroneous, then ABC has some serious PR work to do in order to correct mis-information about their position on the grant and other things as well.

I think more people than just this writer are confused about what ABC is doing.  I suggested to Tim that the group needs to explain their intentions and actions very clearly.  If even I am confused, as involved as I am, I shudder to think what other misperceptions might be floating about.

Every time I make some statement about ABC that is less than a positive one, I get electronically jumped on by people that may or may not be official ABCer's.  But they all say I shouldn't form an opinion until I have attended a meeting.  Great goal... but impossible for everyone they are trying to reach or set straight.

How's about a weblog ABC?  I'll help.

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Also, I am still looking forward to a reponse from Ian about how how I was "had".  Ian stated that he, and perhaps others, were ferreting bogus emails tp public officials that might put ABC in a bad light,  "There's a handful of people opposed to ABC who like to send these emails, make offensive phone calls to elected officials, etc. and claim to be part of ABC. "  He goes on to say, "We've tracked down some of the individuals involved."

After I asuured him that I had not been "had".  I asked some questions that have yet to be answered in the comments section below the "Vinegar" post.  I want to know who "we" are and how they obtain the emails they check out.

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