PLP Candidate Gibbons Takes Campaign Online
Saying “It’s the medium of the next generation,” and it is “indicative of a new ambitious approach to politics and campaigning,” PLP hopeful John D Gibbons has launched a comprehensive online presence including a website, Twitter account, as well as a Facebook profile and page.
Mr. Gibbons, who will be running in St. George’s West, continued on to say that having an online presence is “An opportunity to interact directly to the people and bring in new voters at the same time. It’s time to use the tools of the next generation. We need them to work alongside their parents and grandparents and take on more responsibility for their country.”
Less than a month after he was selected by the PLP as a candidate, Mr Gibbon’s website was up and running, complete with a short bio, blog and social media integration:
Launching both a Facebook page and profile, Mr Gibbons has attained hundreds of “friends” since his campaign’s recent Facebook debut:
Becoming the third local politician, or political hopeful, to actively use the micro-blogging network Twitter, Mr Gibbons joins fellow PLP’ers Minister Paula Cox and Terry Lister in reaching out to the public via the required 140 characters or less:
The 36-year-old political hopeful is the son of John and Christine Gibbons, and is often recalled for his student activist days, when as a 19-year-old he was briefly arrested and questioned in relation to the circulation of a pamphlet. No charges were ever laid, and Mr Gibbons continued to speak at seminars and events advocating for the youth.
Mr Gibbons will be running in Constituency #2 St. George’s West, which is presently held by UBP Leader Kim.Swan. One can expect the internet to play a significant role in the campaign for that seat, as Mr Swan is also active online and was one of the first local politicians to have his own website.
Candidates for the PLP Leadership position have all used social networks as part of their campaign in recent weeks. Minister Paula Cox is on Facebook and Twitter, as well as having a campaign website. Dale Butler is on Facebook, and was the only one to announce his intentions to seek the position of Premier on the social network. Terry Lister, whose campaign has shown itself to be the most e-savvy, was the first local politician on Twitter, and actively uses his Facebook page, even posting video endorsements.
The continued emergence of local politicians online seems a clear indication that Bermuda’s next general election will be the first in which the world wide web will be used as a major campaign ground. You can visit Mr Gibbon’s campaign Facebook page here, Twitter account here, and website here.
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