I have finally finished (updates, omissions and exclusions excepted) compiling my detailed list of candidates for the CanberraVotes.com documentation website.
I started building this list with the announcement of the earliest preselections this year and have slowly but surely built up a fairly comprehensive database of how a candidate can be contacted and viewed via the web.
The information captured includes the following fields:
- Surname,
- First Name,
- Party,
- Current MLA status,
- Electorate,
- Phone,
- Fax,
- Email,
- Primary Web page,
- Facebook Page,
- Myspace Page,
- YouTube Page,
- Wikipedia or Other Web page,
- Photograph of the candidate.
The way the data is presented you can scroll through the data and click on the relevant links to be taken to the appropriate web resource. All data was collected by extensive “Googling”, the Telstra White Pages or simply reading the information from candidate provided handouts and leaflets.
What I have found somewhat dissapointing is how some candidates feel that it is better not to post any information about themselves on the net. I’m sorry, but in my opinion, if you are standing for public office, you have an obligation to make sure you can be at least easily contacted. The net may not be accessible to everyone but it represents the only way of disseminating information on-demand 24/7.