US Mayors on Twitter5 Case StudiesProf. Greenberg’s E-Governance & Transparency Class Spring 2013

Michael Bloomberg (New York)

- Tweets @MikeBloomberg

- 439K Followers (Follows 146)

- 4,947 Tweets (Since 3/2009)

Mayor Bloomberg (NYC)

Very Professional/Streamlined Feed

- “On Message” Messaging…

But impersonal, perhaps? Compare to Booker…

Responsive to Constituents? Not really…

Bloomberg During Sandy…

Cory Booker (Newark, NJ)

Tweets @CoryBooker

> 1.3 Million Followers (Follows 66 K)

24 K Tweets (Since 8 / 2008)

“Tweetaholic?”

Responsiveness…

Responsiveness…

Responsiveness…

Responsiveness:

Responsiveness…

Jurisdictional Issues?

Booker on Twitter (quote):

“What we need to start doing is finding ways to give more people the tools necessary to influence the world around them, not let them be drowned out, glossed over or ignored.” (Feb. 1, 2013)

Source: IVN, 1 Feb 2013

<http://ivn.us/2013/02/01/social-media-and-local-politics-a-lasting-relationship/>

Annise Parker (Houston)

Tweets @AnniseParker

> 14 K Followers (Follows 2,257)

1,200 Tweets

Annise Parker:

Annise Parker:

Web 2.0 Innovation…

Promoting the City…

Responsiveness:

Mick Cornett (Oklahoma City)

Tweets @MickCornett

6,250 Followers (Follows 136)

121 Tweets

Not Much Activity…Most Retweeted Tweet?

Cornett’s OKC Diet Challenge...

Meanwhile, Back in Austin…

Lee Leffingwell (@TheLeeTeam)

3,327 Followers; Following 888

826 Tweets (Joined Jan. 2009)

What’s he tweeting about?

Mayor Leffingwell (Austin)

Updates on city services:

Mayor Laffingwell (Austin)

Promoting the City:

Mayor Laffingwell (Austin)

Promoting the City:

Mayor Laffingwell… Responding to Constituents through Twitter?

Not so much…

Was it *always* like this

For Mayors?

2009 Chicago Tribune Article…

“What Would Daley Tweet?”

Paul Green (director of Roosevelt Institute for Politics):

“It could be very dangerous…He’s the most politically powerful mayor ever of Chicago, and still there are circling above him birds with long wings waiting to pounce.”

As reported by Mary Schmich in June 12, 2009 Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-06-12/news/0906111079_1_tweet-mayor-daley-twitter )

Constantly Evolving Conventional Wisdom…

Do Twitter feeds reflect governing styles/personalities?More Responsive eGovt, or just a front?