Start Your Campaign on WestwoodBlog

If you plan to run for a board or commission in the 2010 Town Election on Tuesday, April 27, please consider posting an article here on Westwood Blog. It is relatively early in the cycle now--potential candidates have until March 9 to file nomination papers--but it already appears we have four candidates running for two positions on the School Committee.

During the period leading up to Town Meeting and Town Election two years ago, about 1200 people visited Westwood Blog, spending an average of 4 1/2 minutes each on the site. I interviewed each of the four candidates for Selectman and posted that audio online. I will wait until the ballot is finalized before I plan anything specific this year, but I wanted to get things started a bit earlier...

This blog is not a newspaper. I will not make endorsements or claim to speak for the community. I want YOU to participate.

• I will assist candidates who wish to post information. Send me a statement and I will put it up on the site if you feel the technology is getting in the way of your ability to post.
• I will not edit what is submitted by candidates as long as it does not subject me to a lawsuit. I will separate your content into a "teaser" for the main page of the site and the remainder of the copy--this is to avoid having your post fill the entire front page.
• I will not moderate comments from residents who are willing to identify themselves except for issues of libel, profanity, or impersonation. If "laughingboi57" posts a comment like "your stupid" I will delete that. But if "Concerned Resident" posts a comment that offends you...I will judge whether or not it presents a libel problem for me and take appropriate action--with a preference to let things stand and support free speech.
• I am requiring registration to post comments...but uUnderstand, I cannot enforce identification. If someone registers as "John Smith," unless I get complaints, I can't and won't track them down and verify their identity.

To get you started, I've created a video tutorial about how to create an account on Westwood Blog. I'll post a video later today about how to compose an article.