An online community

Hood River Council Candidate Sees Future in Blogging

By Tomi Owens, 11-02-06

We here at New West Columbia Gorge are, for obvious reasons, very keen on the idea of an ‘online community’ in our region. Although there are numerous websites, Gorge Bloggers are still a rare breed. One exception is Arthur Babitz.

I first met Arthur several weeks ago at an impromptu gathering he had organized in our neighborhood as part of his campaign for Hood River City Council. Since then, I have been following his blog, vicariously living the “excitement” of being a first time politician.

Today, I asked him a few questions about his blogging experience and to expand on some of his ideas for a City Council blog.

New West: How long have you been blogging?

Babitz:I started my blog the day I filed the nomination petition to run for Hood River City Council. I thought it would be fun to capture the excitement of the experience as it happened-- before I become a jaded, narcissistic political hack. Also, it was a way to get a free website.

What first interested you in this medium?

I know almost nothing about blogging, but I enjoy writing. Writing helps me think through problems. An audience-- even an imaginary one-- forces me to organize my thoughts. It probably sounds odd, but before I go to a campaign event or interview I read through my blog quickly to remind myself how I worded my explanations. It's not that I can't speak spontaneously, but if I take a few hours to craft a clear explanation of something it's going to be far better than the words that pop into my head when I'm trying to respond to a room full of people without spilling my drink.

Roughly how many hits have you received in the last month?

I've had between 400 and 500 hits in two months. That may not seem like a lot, but remember only about 2000 people will cast a vote in the city on election day. I'm pretty sure that anyone who makes the effort to read my blog will be convinced I'm qualified for the office, so I've used door hangers and postcards to advertise my URL. Each time I do some door-to-door or a mailing there is a little bump in my traffic, so I know I'm getting through to a few more people. I'll admit to a little thrill every time someone tells me they've seen my blog. The other day while I was on the treadmill at the gym someone approached me to talk about one of my entries. That kept me going for another mile.

Please describe what you envision for a City Council blog.

First I need to get elected. If my campaign is successful, I'd like to continue writing articles explaining city issues in detail and soliciting feedback. I've discussed this with some of the current council members, and they've expressed some interest in joining me. We'll have to figure out some rules to make it clear we're each expressing our own opinions and we'll have to avoid issues where the council acts as a quasi-judicial body, but I think a venue to discuss city issues outside of City Council meetings will help improve the quality of the discussion.

Let's look at how the average resident interacts with City Council today. You need to read the meeting agenda to get the title of the issues that are being discussed. If you think something might be interesting you request a copy of the ordinance and supporting documents from the City Recorder. You go to the meeting (missing Monday night football), sit through several other agenda items, and hopefully get a chance to speak. I've been given several good ideas by people who've read my blog, learned about an issue, and shared with me how that problem was solved where they used to live. I doubt they would have made the effort to bring that idea to a City Council meeting -- if they even knew the issue was being discussed.

Do you think blogging could become an important component of life in Hood River and the Gorge?

Hood River is a progressive but largely apolitical city. We're far from Salem and Washington DC, and for the most part we like it that way. The Hood River News covers local politics, but rarely in great depth. I don't harbor illusions that I can get everyone interested in politics, but I'd like to at least engage the people who are interested. And when there is an issue that affects everyone, like the building height code changes, most people learn about it in the checkout line at the supermarket. A first hand account by someone who was at the meeting might help reduce the noise.

Do you actively read other blogs? Which are your favorites?

When I asked one of my neighbors to take a look at my blog she said, "I have trouble looking at blogs — they have too many words." Maybe that's why my favorite is Tom Tomorrow. Every Tuesday I look at the new "This Modern World" cartoon, and read the new blog entries. I can't draw, but I hope to learn how express myself in far fewer words.

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Updated 11-3-06: Babitz isn't the only local candidate with a blog that touches on City Hall. Martin Campos-Davis, also running for city council, posts only occasionally, but last month outlined his thoughts on tree-trimming, parking, water and only common concerns.

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