The local election race became very literal Thursday, when one St. Albert resident put his vote up for grabs on Twitter and encouraged candidates to come and get it.
Brian Siddle, whose company SBX Marketing specializes in online marketing, put a message out early Thursday afternoon telling candidates in the St. Albert riding that the first one to get to his door could have his vote on election day.
Siddle admits his approach might seem unorthodox, but said he wanted to know that the candidate he cast a vote for would be open to communicating with him.
“The person who is going to represent me, I at least want to see that they are open to communications. If you actually did want to talk to them you could,” he said.
Alberta Party candidate Tim Osborne (@tim osborne) was the first to knock on Siddle's door, followed closely by Alberta Liberal candidate Kim Bugeuad (@kbugeaud). The challenge also went out to Tory candidate Stephen Khan (@StephenkhanPC) and Wildrose candidate James Burrows (@JamesCBurrows), but Siddle said they did not respond.
Siddle said he couldn't find the account for NDP candidate Nicole Bownes, but she is available at @NicoleNDP.
He said the party platforms or the leaders aren't as interesting to him as the need for a strong and accessible local candidate.
“I could look through every party (platform) and I am not going to agree with everything one party wants or wants to do,” he said. “I don't really care about who the leader is. I want to know about who the guy or girl representing me is.”
Now one vote closer to victory, Osborne said he saw Siddle's post and was happy to stop by and talk with him for a little bit.
Osborne said he started using social media like Twitter and Facebook long before the campaign began and said he would definitely continue to use it.
“It is an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate that they are accessible,” he said.
He said some social media feeds have simply pushed party press releases, but he has made an effort to engage fully with voters.
“Social media is best when it's used to create dialogue,” he said. “It is set up so people can ask a question directly to their elected officials.”
Siddle said this type of dialogue through social media shouldn't stop on election day and he will be paying attention.
“I think the big thing is going to be once the election is over who carries on with it, whether they get elected or not.”
