This is an opinionated survey of the web pages of Thurston County Primary Candidates. Please feel free to join in. The focus is not on the meat of their campaigns, it is on their web presence. What is your first impression of each web site? What would you keep or change?

First up is Reelect Bob Van Schoorl for Port Commissioner. Eh. That first photo on the home page has him in sunglasses, shades. I don't want my political types represented in shades, makes me think of shady back room deals, but perhaps that is just me. I also want Bob to hand sign his full name instead of just his first on the front page.

Otherwise the site is sorta blah and tired but maybe okay. Yeoch! That Frequently Asked Questions link leads to a site under construction page (at least as of this moment)! Big no-no.

Next look over Elect Jeanne Marie Thomas . Better. I think I'd tighten up some of the text and maybe cook the content down into fewer categories. As for the home page, does that "To The Voters of Olympia" work for you?

Matthew Green for Olympia City Council shouts Word Press theme, which isn't a bad thing in my book. I like the tab layout, the use of white space, and the color scheme is okay. I can tell that a lot of thought has gone into this site. I'm pretty confident that most anything I want to know about this campaign can be found right here. And it publishes a feed.

http://www.myspace.com/toren4occ is not listed in the local voter's pamphlet but I was able to find it easily with a quick google. Aargh. I personally hate most if not all myspace pages, which this is. I find them way too cluttered and confusing. Though maybe this will work to reach young myspace fans.

The text boxes floating over the background wallpaper makes my eyes cross. I hope someone can take the design aspect of this campaign in hand and very likely off myspace altogether.

Olympians for Amy Tousley uses an older style template (I think it is tripod or tripod related) and it doesn't really work. The links need to be cleaned up and consolidated. The front page needs something more current than March 4th or perhaps something that is not time dated. The graphic I think comes with the template and doesn't really do the trick, something local would work better.

Rhenda Iris Strub for Olympia City Council (Pos 3) is a relief. The site opens and I know where I am, I am not confused, I am not immersed in clutter. The site reads well design and use wise. The hook of the iris graphic that links to Rhenda Iris Strub's name works fine. I'm not sure about the use of purple though it handily continues the iris theme. I'd almost feel that it was a bit cloying but I then can focus on the 4 P's for Olympia and I'm all better.

Good clear photo front and center. And great focus on endorsements. Feed available.

The public Oly Bloglines includes feeds for both Matthew Green and Rhenda Iris Strub's sites. Please let me know if you have a local campaign site that publishes a feed and I'll include it.

What web page works for you? Can a good web page convince you to take another look at a candidate? Can a sucky web page turn you off of a candidate altogether? Or does the quality of web presence even matter in a local primary election? Feel free to weigh in with your observations and opinions.

(Later addition 8/1, thanks Emmett for tip!) :

Craig Ottavelli for Olympia City Council Pos. 2 uses Blogger, might be a good idea for Toren. Free Blogger account and then get an inexpensive domain name and hosting. Craig's site is a good basic one page. I'd probably fiddle around with the text some and make it even easier to read. All in all, this site gets the job done. Green is a good color choice and also a popular one for several local candidates.