North Coast Journal Blogthing

Kimberlie Davis, a senior at McKinleyville High School, won the Redwood Technology Consortium’s Don Wolski Memorial Scholarship for this essay. She will receive her $1,500 award tonight (May 8, 5:30 p.m.) at the consortium’s meeting at the Humboldt Area Foundation. She plans to attend Humboldt State University.

Changing Technology and the Election

YouTube. MySpace. Facebook. Internet fundraising. What do these all have in common? These four technologies have had a huge effect on the 2008 presidential election, and will continue to have an effect on future elections. From giving the people a voice to making it easier for people to contribute, these technologies have allowed the American people to be directly involved in the political process.

For the first time, in the 2008 presidential election, YouTube was used for the presidential debates. Americans of all ages recorded videos of themselves asking a question, and if chosen, the video would then be played at the debates and the presidential candidates would answer the question.

Jeff Jarvis on PrezVid.com stated that “The YouTube debates could fundamentally change the dynamics of politics in America, giving a voice to the people, letting us be heard by the powerful and the public, enabling us to coalesce around our interests and needs, and even teaching reporters who are supposed to ask questions in our stead how they should really do it.” (more…)

This just in from the KHUM studios:

KHUM 104.3/104.7 FM’s morning personality Cliff Berkowitz is interviewing district supervisor candidates throughout the month of May. The interview style will not be a debate, but a one on one conversation between each candidate and Berkowitz. “Lawn signs and quick sound bites aren’t enough to really get to know the candidates,” Berkowitz said. “When you sit down one-on one-with all the candidates, you really get to know who they are and what they stand for.”

The first interview takes place Monday, May 12 at 8:30 a.m. with Third District candidate Brian Bryan Plumley, followed by John Vevoda, Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 a.m., Jimmy Smith, Wednesday, May 14 at 8:30 a.m., Mark Lovelace, Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 a.m. followed by Paul Pitino at 8:30, Clif Clendenen, Monday, May 19 at 8:30 a.m. and Estelle Fennell, Wednesday, May 21 at 8:30 a.m.

Each candidate will have the opportunity to talk about what they hope to accomplish as district supervisor. Cliff wants to educate the public to enable them to select the candidate they feel is best.”These aren’t debates ― just a chance to see what’s important to each of the candidates, why they’re running and how they’ll implement their ideas,” Berkowitz said. Listeners can also hear the candidate interviews via KHUM’s webstream and archives at khum.com.

Expect at least some talk about trails, one of Cliff’s favorite topics.

(Note: Links are included above for candidate websites, but we could not find one for John Vevoda. Does he have an official campaign webpage?)