Although 26-year-old John Logan Jones is running for elected office for the first time, he’s not a stranger to politics. Jones spent the last year working on U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s presidential campaign and was a delegate at the Republican National Convention. He is also a veteran of the Air Force where he served as a linguist in Afghanistan.
Jones, a graduate of the district’s Falmouth high school, is trying to unseat a two-term incumbent, Rep. Mary P. Nelson, who has been a resident of Falmouth for more than 30 years.
He feels very strongly that his high-tech approach to campaigning - which he plans to extend into his work as representative - is what sets him apart from his opponent, who doesn’t have an online presence for her campaign. “I don’t feel that you can really be in touch with the electorate if you’re not online,” said Jones. “Using social media to reach voters is the new standard for political candidates.”
If elected, Jones is committed to using technology as a way to stay in touch with his constituents. He's making this point one of the central messages of his campaign. In a recent article in a local publication, he promised to post updates on Facebook and Twitter for every vote he casts as a representative for his district and respond to any questions and concerns in a public forum.
He's taken inspiration from U.S. Representative from Michigan Justin Amash, who pledged to be the first congressman to explain all of his votes, and has done so for the more than 1,550 votes cast in his first term. Amash primarily uses Facebook and Twitter to publicize his congressional opinions.
When devising the technology strategy for his campaign, Jones decided to use NationBuilder. “Choosing NationBuilder was a no brainer because Facebook and Twitter tie into the system. That makes it easier for me to communicate with voters through social media."
If elected, Jones hopes to reconnect Maine's state government with its residents. He recently told the press, "My goal in the House will be to restore local control, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. I think the people who should be making decisions are the ones who are most directly affected by them."
