White Pine county commissioner John Lampros lambasted the use of the Internet and social media in this week’s candidate’s night held in Ely.
While not running in the primary Lampros used the night to strongly criticize what he called the misinformation being published on various social media sites such as Facebook.
“I think he is kind of shaking his fist at the sky,” said fellow Commissioner Mike Coster. “This is just the way it is now and while there may be some misinformation out there I have found that it is quickly corrected.”
By far the most popular and influential Internet page is White Pine & Ely Politics Facebook. Begun by Ely resident Audrey Clark a year ago the page had close to 500 members.
“I started the group back in March 2013 as a way for me to learn about politics. I really knew nothing and thought it would be a great (fun) way for me to learn, Little did I know the ruckus it would cause! I am truly amazed how the group grew and transformed. A lot of people joined and seemed to enjoy having a place to discuss issues and try to find answers to things.” said Clark.
The page was credited with playing a crucial role in the Ely city elections last June.
“I have been told by many who live here in Ely that this group helped them become more informed on the issues then they have ever been in the past! This I find to be a great thing!!” Clark wrote in an e-mail at the time .
“The election turned out to be quite a nail biter. When the early votes came in I was a bit disappointed. But when the next results came in I was Jumping out of my seat! Things had taken a turn for the better!!”
What Clark was referring to were the early voting results that had two of the three reform candidates losing.
Most of those early votes came before the last Ely City Council meeting when Clark and her page were taken to task by outgoing councilman Shane Bybee.
Bybee efforts to chastise Clark for her page may have created a backlash. The number of members swelled by about ten percent and the surge for the reformers at the polls on election day may also be linked to the effort.
Since the city election the number of members on the page has grown to 540 and could easily top 600 by the November poll.
