Utah County Commission candidates use Facebook to reach delegates

PROVO — Steve Diamond called Facebook a phenomenal campaign tool. The Utah County Republican Party delegate for Orem said it saves money and gives delegates and the population instantaneous feedback from candidates.

"It's the wave of the future," Diamond said.

Several Utah County Commission candidates have joined the wave or plan to look into it as part of their campaigns.

Incumbent Commissioner Gary Anderson ventured onto the site shortly after announcing his candidacy — encouraged to do so by both his campaign managers and his 13-year-old daughter, Abigail.

"This is a whole new world for me," Anderson said. "I'm in a non-Facebook generation."

With all but one of the commission candidates over 50, some are grappling with using the social networking site for the first time.

Doug Witney, who is running for commission seat B, said his daughter runs his Facebook candidate page.

Witney said he remembers running for sheriff 12 years ago and how much money he had to spend sending out mailers and putting up ads. He recalls thinking at the time, "How can anyone off the street run for political office?"

Social media and the Internet have changed that.

"I think they are the key to allowing a common individual like myself to run for political office," Witney said.

Incumbent Steve White said Facebook allows candidates to not only communicate with the voters on a regular basis, but also gives candidates a way to encourage people to vote.

Two of the county commission candidates who have perhaps the biggest presence on Facebook are Joel Wright and Leon Frazier.

Wright said he goes on Facebook one to four times a day to post articles, questions and his thoughts on issues. He said he feels the delegates and the population at large can get to know him as a candidate and as an individual at a much deeper level by his presence on Facebook.

"An unedited Facebook page is more revealing than any flier or official statement," Wright said, adding that it's also a venue to discuss the issues more in-depth.

Frazier has posted an interview with himself on his Facebook page and previously has meticulously written about what has happened in certain commission meetings and what he thinks about them.