Are town officials using blogs?

Yes, yes and yes. In small towns and large, mayors, city managers, council members and others are using blogs to inform, inspire and welcome. Eden Prairie City (MN) Manager Scott Neal's blog motto is "Putting a face on the faceless bureaucrat." Sound like a good idea?

Here is a partial list of official blogs and related information -

The Official Blog of Fayetteville Mayor, Dan Coody

Eden Prairie City (MN) Manager Scott Neal and Fire Chief George Esbensen communicate with the public several times a week and write about what is on their minds.

Official Blog site for the City of Laurel, Maryland focuses on "providing timely and straight (no spin) updates by the City on important issues/concerns, community and special events, City programs and other information that is helpful to your community."

"Lakeland Highlights" (Tennessee) is City Manager Robert Wherry's blog. The town's website solicits "your opinion on consolidation & charter changes" and has links to its numerous blogs which post agendas and minutes of commission meetings.

On Lebanon, New Hampshire's City Manager's Blog, Gregg Mandsager thanks visitors for comments and writes, "Welcome! Please let me know what you see going on around town or what you would like to learn more about."

Town of Parker, Colorado - "Welcome to the Town of Parker Colorado Blog. Find events, concerts, sports information, local entertainment,add restaurant or movie reviews, popular Parker links, and discuss Parker Issues."

Check out the Town Manager's blog of Winchester, Massachusetts.

Isanti, Minnesota Council member George Wimmer's blog is at www.georgewimmer.blogspot.com/

Related Information
From Town Blog to Town Hall is an article about getting public officials online.

Huntington Beach (California) Public Library has three blogs.

Traverse City, Michigan promotes its film festival with their blog.

GrowDetroit.com/blog/ "... will offer a resource/business exchange that will provide users tools and data to help them evaluate and take advantage of local opportunities."

Michigan in Pictures is a savy site promoting this Great Lakes State.

Friends of Seattle is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group whose mission is to improve the quality of life in Seattle as it grows by advocating for progressive urban development policies and electing candidates for public office who support a livable and sustainable city.