Monday, March 2, 2009

ANGELA REDDOCK TAKES A PAGE FROM PRES. OBAMA WITH USE OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING AND WEBSITE


Local Candidates Use Technology to Stay Connected

L.A Community College District (LACCD) Trustee Angela J. Reddock has powerhouse endorsements in her campaign for election on Tuesday, March 3. She is backed by her fellow Community College Trustees and the LACCD’S nine community college presidents. And the election is tomorrow.

Ms. Reddock is the choice of LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, major labor organizations, L.A. County Democratic Party and Democratic clubs in Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Pacific Palisades, Sherman Oaks and Culver City.

But many voters throughout sprawling L.A. County know next to nothing about the L.A. Community College Board of Trustees. Media attention on the Board’s actions is low compared to that of the Mayor of Los Angeles, Governor of California and Superintendent of L.A. Schools. The Community College Board is almost never the subject of a top story on local TV news. But despite its low profile, the L.A. Community College Board of Trustees will oversee the spending of more $3.5 billion in construction bonds approved by L.A. County voters in November 2008.

To better connect with voters and establish higher name ID, Ms. Reddock has assembled a ‘Campaign Cyber-Team’ to enable her campaign to speak to directly to voters’ interests and concerns through Internet social networking. Taking a page from Presidential candidate Barack Obama, Ms. Reddock is building on a local scale what Obama constructed online on national scale.

“In order for my message to be heard on creating jobs, going green and rebuilding our college infrastructure, I knew I had to embrace the use of new technology and go viral,” says Reddock, a Board member since her appointment in 2007.

“I am convinced that, through my website www.angelareddock.com, Twitter, Facebook, Internet radio, e-blasts to my database of personal and professional contacts, streaming video and mobile content, I will be the most connected candidate in my race for Trustee. Voters use these new methods of communication more than they use newspapers, over-the-air radio and even local TV for political information. The steps I’ve taken have proven to be the most effective and cost efficient way to connect with the voters – particularly younger voters – in this election,” Ms. Reddock added.

More Americans now embrace the Internet and have become comfortable using home or work computers as their primary means of gathering news and information, and maintaining social communities of family, friends and professional associates. Candidates have now become the newest “Buddy List” seeking to reach these voters.

The election for Community College Board is one of several races voters in the Los Angeles area will decide on Tuesday, March 3 when they go to the polls in this off-year election year. With the euphoria of the Presidential campaign season over, local voter turnout is expected to be low.

Ms. Reddock knows that the work of her Cyber-Team and her modest investment in her new media, social networking approach can help her get ahead of the pack and finish on top on Election Day. “If it worked for President Barack Obama, that’s good enough for me,” Ms. Reddock said.