Kokesh taps Twitter for 'twown' hall talk
Congressional candidate looks to connect to community
Kate Nash | The New Mexican
10/7/2009 - 10/8/09
The Republican candidate in next year's race for the state's 3rd Congressional District is trying something new to connect with voters.
On Oct. 19, Adam Kokesh will hold a twown hall.
Yes, that looks like a typo. But it's not. It's a Twitter town hall — an online-only, real-time question and answer period with the candidate.
The campaign said it was looking to tap into the large community of those who use the popular, instantly updatable microblogging program.
"Twitter is revolutionizing communication, from the way news is reported to how friends stay in touch," Kokesh communications director Andrew Sharp said in an e-mail.
"Since the world first witnessed the power of Twitter during the elections in Iran, more and more people are beginning to think twice about dismissing it. Especially for those in the field of public service, utilizing new methods of communication like Twitter to stay connected will become increasingly vital in the future," Sharp said.
Here's how it works: Twitter users can send questions to Kokesh by posting an update to their account with the words @AdamKokesh somewhere in the message. Questions are accepted up to and during the event. Kokesh then will answer them during the twown hall, which is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Twitter users will be able to search for questions and answers from the meeting after the event.
Kokesh's presumed Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, has held telephone town halls in the past as a way to keep in touch virtually with voters, as have other members of Congress.
Kokesh, 27, served in Iraq as a Marine reservist, and most recently has earned a living as a graphic designer, public speaker and organizer.
Luján is a former member of the state Public Regulation Commission who was elected to Congress last year.
Although the general election is more than a year away, both campaigns are busy raising money in the heavily Democratic district.
For the third quarter of this year, Kokesh raised more than $80,000 while Luján raised more than $70,000. Luján, however, is leading in cash raised for the election cycle overall. Both campaigns will file a report Oct. 15.
