Connie Stewart, executive director of the California Center for Rural Police and a former Arcata mayor, created a Twitter account in May, and since then she has built a small following of over two dozen readers — a minuscule following by the standards of some Twitterers whose readership numbers in the thousands. ”After signing on, I started checking to see if anyone from our region was on, and I couldn’t find any,” Stewart said. “I think, as an elected official, you should be able to use all your mediums available to you. There is a growing network of people, especially young people, who are addicted to social networking. And it is addicting.

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Since opening her account, Stewart has posted dozens of pithy blurbs regarding rural policy issues, which are typically comprised of no more than one or two sentences. Most of the posts record Stewart’s daily projects, and some are infusedStewart said she also uses Facebook, a popular social networking Web site that works much like a social résumé, with photos, lists of interests and a variety of ways to communicate with other users. However, Stewart said she is “using Facebook to communicate with friends and Twitter to do business.” It can be a useful tool not only to communicate with members of the public but also to exchange ideas among co-workers. Stewart said many people involved in her line of work have Twitter accounts and follow one another. ”It’s easier than picking up a phone,” Stewart said. “I don’t have to call them on Friday and see how we’re doing on this project — we can keep each other up to date in 140 characters or less.”

Stewart found the application so useful, she passed along the idea to Arcata City Councilwoman Alexandra Stillman. Stillman has been posting on Twitter for two weeks, and although her following has started small, she said she envisions the program may be very useful for communicating the “odds and ends” of her work to her constituents. By sending out messages to a broad group of readers — both members of the public and government employees alike — Stillman said she is able to exchange ideas and receive feedback, to workshop ideas or look for solutions. ”As a person, I’m a networker. That’s always been something I’ve done,” Stillman said. “So I have this tendency to pass along information anyway, and that’s probably what I will continue to do (with Twitter).

Pass along information of all sorts.” Councilman Michael Morgan of Trinidad initially made big news when he launched a blog to help him “learn more about issues” important to his city’s residents, and to sample their thoughts on his priorities. But since his initial launch, his expectations have been tempered by reality on the ground. ”I think it will be a while before it catches on enough to be the communication vehicle I hope for here in Trinidad,” Morgan said in an e-mail to the Times-Standard. “I’d love to see people posting more, and airing their ideas and comments for our local government. I’d love to see constructive criticism and encouragement.”

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