Political candidates here are being urged to make more use of social media to keep residents up to date on events and decisions.
Residents and political candidates met recently at a candidates’ night on Oct. 6 at the Belwood Hall.
During question period Olivia Rutt of Belwood asked mayoral candidates Joanne Ross-Zuj and Kelly Linton how much they make use of social media.
She said she is a proud member of the younger generation coming into the working and voting force.
Rutt said she believes in accessibility and transparency and wanted to make sure her vote counted.
“As a younger generation we want information quickly and easily,” she said.
Rutt said she wanted to be able to reach her mayor as quickly and painlessly as possible through Facebook or Twitter.
“Email is kind of old school,” she commented.
“I want my mayor to be on social media updating me through a blog or other platform.”
She was concerned the township did not even have a Facebook page.
In short, Rutt asked, “How will you be accessible to me.”
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said she did have Twitter and a Facebook page.
She commented on the town’s new website intended to make municipal information more accessible – but agreed it is not a Facebook page.
“It is a site to offer information to residents about services they can access.”
Ross-Zuj agreed “in terms of social media, we have to embrace it more.”
While the corporate site has not gone that route yet, Ross-Zuj added “many of our departments have.”
Linton also agreed that more needed to be done.
“When we communicate through the back page of the Wellington Advertiser and believe that we are communicating to some of the new generation and we really aren’t.”
Linton said as the mayor, residents would see an approach to communication that is similar to the one he is taking in his campaign – which uses Facebook.
“I’ve even learned how to use Instagram, because apparently Facebook is out of date and only us old people use Facebook.”
He said “we have to embrace Facebook, Instagram and Twitter … but we have to change our communication style to suit our audience.”
At the same time, Linton said he enjoys talking to people face-to-face, “but it is essential we start to communicate in ways that our audience wants.”
He added “if we don’t connect with the younger generation, in 20 years we will be in trouble.”
