Kelly’s vlog clicks with his constituents
Spartanburg Herald-Journal
By Jessica L. De Vault
2/11/08
Facebook, MySpace and YouTube have changed the way most teens keep in touch with friends, but now politicians hope to use the technology to communicate with constituents.
Whether you’re one of 427,924 supporters on the Sen. Barack Obama Facebook page or a visitor to Sen. John McCain’s MySpace page with his 44,818 friends, it’s apparent that the Internet is becoming an often used hue in the political spectrum.
That’s why Rep. Keith Kelly got onboard the video blog (vlog) bandwagon last year during the onset of his campaign to run for a House seat. On the advice of his teenage daughters, Kelly, R-Woodruff, launched his site and became one of the first state legislators to have a video-based blog.
“I didn’t even know what a vlog was,” Kelly said. “But the whole idea was about being able to communicate with people in the district. We have received nothing but favorable comments on the vlog. It’s really about constituent service; that’s why we did it - so people can get in touch with me.”
The site has become an informative spot to keep constituents up to speed on Kelly’s political activity in Columbia. It is updated once or twice a week, depending on Kelly’s schedule.
Most of the vlogs last for a minute or less and generally include Kelly speaking about his views on any given topic. All of the vlogs are available on YouTube.com and have received high ratings. Many of the videos have gotten 200 to 300 hits.
“I’m just giving them updates. We talk about immigration, agriculture and anything that comes up. Nothing real heavy, just saying ‘Hey, this is Keith. This is what I do,’ ” he said.
Vlogging buddies
While getting the hang of vlogging, Kelly haphazardly created a video buddy named “Max, the Coffee Pot.”
On his first day in Columbia, the representative videotaped his move into his new office.
Kelly’s e-campaign consultant, Tim Cameron, was videotaping the representative when he discovered that he was missing a very important item. Kelly’s daughter had given him a coffee pot for Christmas, so he was eager to open the packaging and install his new appliance prior to the taping. When Kelly reached into the box to grab his coffee pot, he was surprised to find the package empty.
Cameron insisted on including the coffee pot dilemma in the vlog.
“It was absolutely impromptu,” Kelly said. “(Cameron) said, ‘Hey, that’s funny. Just put it on the video. Just go with it. Just talk.’ ”
The search for his missing coffee pot, which he later named Max, became popular among the viewers.
“Now everyone loves Max,” Kelly said. Max eventually was found and became the subject of later vlogs.
Max has since been put to work, brewing pots of coffee on command.
Cameron, said the representative’s blog has become the start of an online trend for politicians statewide.
“The response has been wildly positive. He has people coming up to him regularly asking him about his blog posts. It’s a great way to communicate with his constituents. Even in the statehouse, there are a lot of members who want to get their own (vlog) because of what he’s done,” Cameron said.
Mike Forrester, a local resident running for a state Senate seat, has created a Web site with vlog postings similar in nature to Kelly’s Web page. After launching his Web page several weeks ago, Forrester said he already has received a few comments.
“People are getting more accustomed to using the Web as a communications tool,” Forrester said. “When you looked at the political process, when the presidential election was going on it was quite popular with those folks. It’s really a neat way to see a person and find out about their views. And we thought it would be a great idea to use it to make contact to learn and hear from the constituents.”
Seeing politicians’ Web sites cropping up across the Internet makes Kelly proud for being a part of the trend.
“I think it’s cutting edge,” Kelly said. “Everyone saw how popular this is, and everyone is going to be doing this. Who would’ve thought I’d be out on the edge?”
Constituent Service
Back for 2008
SHJ: $50,000 to help bolster Woodruff
I thought you would be interested in this article from the Spartanburg Herald Journal:
$50,000 to help bolster Woodruff
Spartanburg Herald-Journal
By Jessica L. DeVault
Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
WOODRUFF - State Sen. Jim Ritchie and Rep. Keith Kelly presented City Council with a $50,000 check from the state Department of Commerce at a council meeting Monday.
The funding was sought by Kelly, R-Woodruff, who wanted to help the city finance its development plans for a new or renovated municipal complex.
Kelly, a freshman representative, pursued Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, who agreed to help acquire the grant.
Special Interests
Every group that “rates” lawmakers is a Columbia special-interest group. Agree with their special interest, get an A. Disagree and get an F. And be assured that for every issue - more taxes or less taxes, pro-life or pro-choice, right to carry guns or no guns - there is a special-interest group.
I don’t represent Columbia special interests. I don’t need their money, and I don’t want their favors. I represent the people in southern Spartanburg County. District 35 includes all or some of the schools in districts 4, 5 and 6.
In my first term, I voted against taking our tax dollars from Woodruff, Byrnes and Dorman high schools and R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center and giving them to private schools, thereby lessening the educational opportunities for our children. I voted for a mandatory school bus replacement cycle to ensure reliable transportation. And I voted to override the governor’s veto so that autistic children are now covered by their parents’ health insurance.
SHJ: Magazine ranks Woodruff High one of best in U.S.
Congratulations Teacher, Faculty, and Students of Woodruff High for being listed as one of the nation’s best High Schools by US News & World Report. You make our area and our state very proud. Here’s the article from the Spartanburg Herald Journal:
Magazine ranks Woodruff High one of best in U.S.
By Ashlei N. Stevens
Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Woodruff High School has been listed among “America’s Best High Schools,” according to a new report by U.S. News & World Report magazine.
