By: Kendrick Meek
As a candidate running to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate and as a four-term member of Congress with a 15-year public service record, I have taken great pride in representing my constituents to the best of my ability. In recent years, there has been an explosion of new technologies that help elected officials stay more in touch with their constituents. Later this week, in Pittsburgh, the top people behind the creation of that technology and the best practitioners of this new media will be gathered at Netroots Nation. I'll be there with them learning from the best.
Netroots Nation is one of the most important annual events in the progressive movement and it is both a place where I can reach out to some of the key opinion leaders in the online world and, hopefully, a place where I can learn how to more effectively use new media tools.
I tweet, and maintain a fan page and personal page on Facebook, but new media is not only about the latest social networking sites online or applications on my iPhone. It’s about issues and public policy, and finding ways to help our economy move from recession to recovery and the men and women who attend Netroots Nation have critical ideas on how we move our country forward.
While I'm in Pittsburgh, my key goal will be to talk to as many people in attendance as possible, but equally important, to listen to as many people in attendance as possible too.
As a candidate running for the U.S. Senate, I am qualifying for the ballot by petition. Never before in the history of Florida has a statewide candidate successfully qualified for the ballot in this untraditional way. As I am travelling throughout the state, I am listening and learning from Floridians of all political backgrounds who want to play a vital role in our state’s future. That is the type of attitude that I will bring to this gathering in Pittsburgh.
One of the first events I'll be participating in is a panel on the rising issue of energy independence for our national security. At 4:30, I'll be joining blogger Adam Siegel, Houston Mayor Bill White and VetVoice Editor Richard Smith for this important discussion. I'll also be attending the Candidate's Forum on Friday Night.
On Saturday and Sunday, I'll be talking with as many bloggers and activists as I can throughout the day. Florida will be going through an important election for U.S. Senate in 2010 and I want to connect with any writers who may be blogging about the election, about my campaign or about our potential opponents, including Governor Charlie Crist and former Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio. Florida is a key state in many ways and who represents us in the Senate will influence many issues, from oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to climate change to health care and beyond. In addition to individual meetings throughout the day, we'll be holding a discussion with our friends from Florida from 3-4 p.m. in the convention center, room 312. I'll also be attending the Daily Kos party that night. If you are interested in the election or would like to talk to me about these or other issues, contact my New Media Director, Kenneth Quinnell, at kenneth@kendrickmeek.com
I'd like to thank the organizers of Netroots Nation for their help in accommodating my staff and I and helping us connect with the convention attendees. I look forward to talking to you in Pittsburgh.