And so it was, Civic Hacking was born in 1994 – E-Democracy’s 20th Anniversary

And so it was, two decades ago that a rag tag group of volunteers in Minnesota created:

• The world’s first election information website
• An online candidate debate – that actually worked and generated news based on the substance involved
• The volunteer “bit bucket brigade” live re-typed election results from the state mainframe green screen on the web via a modem connected portable Mac
• A real-name based online civic discussion space called MN-Politics that also had a two post a day volume limit (a decade before Facebook discovered the power of real-names and Twitter tried out another kind of volume constraint)
• A “website” universally accessible via multiple technologies – web, gopher, ftp, even email retrieval – with more hits on Gopher than the web
• A buzz that generated global media coverage and speaking invitations from around the world
• An authentically citizen-centric approach to online engagement that moved the city-wide online townhall and then the neighborhood community life forum
• In today’s buzzwords we were the world’s first civic hacking project combining passionate citizens, technology skills and tools, and sourcing and blending data from multiple sources (candidates via diskette, media via email, government via hand retyping, other non-profit content via attached files, etc.)
• In fact, the 1994 site may still be the most comprehensive election information website with the content ALL aggregated in one place. By 1996, the political and media players all had their own websites and then we added the media partnership concept. (As powerful groups figured out their interests online, their willingness to collaborate beyond joint marketing declined.)
• Speaking of open data, we were one of the first sites in 1996 to create searchable web-access to campaign contribution data and had the most sophisticated features at the time

We are gearing up for a year of celebration and reflective lesson sharing and some sort of official announcement.

For now, if you’d like to thank us for our work over the years, your donation could not be more timely and appreciated! Add a memo about the 20th anniversary.

 

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MINNESOTA E-DEMOCRACY 1994    UPDATE #1  – August 1, 1994
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Minnesota Campaign and Election Information on the Internet!

1. Draft Project Description
2. E-Democracy Gathering 8/4/94
3. E-Democracy Draft Timeline
4. Working Groups – Please Volunteer!
5. Campaign Contacts and E-Mail Volunteers

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Minnesota E-Democracy Project Description  – DRAFT –

Minnesota E-Democracy 1994 is a non-partisan effort to provide the
public with greater access to campaign and election information in
electronic form.  This volunteer effort is working to help candidates
place their position papers and other information on the Internet.
Information, knowledge, and connectivity are key ingredients in our
democracy.  This effort may demonstrate how electronic communication
can be a positive contribution as well as a challenge in our democracy.

Minnesota E-Democracy will focus on the Governor and U.S. Senate races.
However, it will also create an information infrastructure that will
allow campaigns and civic and political organizations at all levels to
distribute information electronically to a wide public audience.  The
two primary access methods to the campaign information will be through a gopher/web
Internet server being established at the Twin Cities Free-net and a new
Minnesota Politics and Public Policy e-mail discussion list (MN-Politics).

For more information contact:
Steven Clift - clif…@gold.tc.umn.edu
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1. Minnesota E-Democracy Meeting:
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7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 4
3454 Fremont Ave S., Minneapolis
(Corner of 35th and Fremont – South of Uptown 2 blocks east of
Hennepin)

This will be an informal gathering that will give those interested in this
effort a chance to meet and discuss ideas about the E-Democracy
project.

You are welcome to stop by any time between 7:30 and 9:00 p.m..

Around 8:00 p.m. we will go through a short agenda, including an
overview of the effort, working group organization, and a chance for
everyone to tell why they are interested in the project or what efforts
they plan to focus on.  If you cannot attend, please feel free to e-mail
me a short note

that I can read to those in attendance. ** Please let me know if you
plan to attend through e-mail or by telephone by Wednesday, August 3 at 5:00
p.m..

Thanks again for all your interest!
Steven Clift
clif…@gold.tc.umn.edu
612-824-XXXX

2. E-Democracy DRAFT Timeline
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As of 8/1/94:

August 1 – 24
* Form E-Democracy Working Groups
* Set-up Minnesota Politics and Public Policy E-List (MN-Politics)
* Set-up E-Democracy Internet Server
* Strengthen information links with U.S. Senate and Governor
campaigns
* Position papers – scan, obtain on disk – prepare for server

August 25 – September 13 – Demonstration Phase
* Launch server – place collected documents on server
* Begin flow of campaign information through campaign volunteers
* Publicize MN-Politics e-list and E-Democracy server electronically
* Build links with other voter education efforts and press efforts
* September 13 – DFL and IR Primary Election

September 14 – 25
* Evaluate demonstration phase
* Determine scope of general election effort
* Build channels for information contributions by other candidates
and
civic and political groups

September 26 – November 8 – General Election Phase
* Access: Links to server from other Internet sites and commercial
services have been established
* Build broader public awareness through media (don’t oversell)
* Materials developed to assist public in obtaining on-line campaign

information
* Other candidate centered IT options explored (E-mail, Supporter
E-lists)
* Etc.

3. E-DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUPS (Non-Partisan/Non-Candidate Area)
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NOTE:  As of 8/1/94 over 20 people have offered to volunteer with this
effort in some way or another.  The break down of work groups is not set
in stone.  What tasks are we missing?  What would you like to
contribute?  What working group would you like to work with or create?

This is an action oriented effort and we are not attempting to build an
organization.  Our timeline is very tight, so individual initiative and
action will be key to achieving success.  Please send me a note
(clif…@gold.tc.umn.edu) saying which working group you would like to
help out with or which task you will do.  Or  describe your general
interests in this effort and I’ll attempt to suggest a task that would
aid the overall effort.

E-DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUPS (Non-Partisan/Non-Candidate Area)
You may be a volunteer with a specific campaign and be on a working
group.

E-Democracy Campaign Information Server
* Establish server on Internet/Twin Cities Free-Net – technical
aspects
* Text – scan text of collected position papers
* Organize documents – collect future materials from MN-Politics for
server
* Help train campaign volunteers to promote continual flow of
information

Members:
Scott Fritche - fri…@stolaf.edu
Doug Hassman - dhas…@ironwood.cray.com

Campaign Relations and Civic Outreach
* Explain effort to campaigns and assist involvement
* Secure initial position papers and future campaign information
* Help link “E-mail Campaign Volunteers” with E-Democracy effort
* Obtain expanded election content from civic and political
organizations

Members:
Steven Clift - clif…@gold.tc.umn.edu
Stefanie Otterson - stef…@maroon.tc.umn.edu

Access and Publicity
* Publicize E-Democracy widely – press, Internet, libraries, etc.
* Promote links to server at other Internet sites and commercial
services
* Develop access links at libraries and tip sheets to help public
find info

Members:

Minnesota Politics and Public Policy E-mail Forum – MN-Politics@MR.Net
* List owner duties – subscription/signoff information, etc.
* Publicize list
* Offer Guidance to unmoderated list

List Manager:
Mick Souder - maso…@alex.stkate.edu

4. E-Democracy Governor and U.S. Senate Campaign Contacts
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Note: Where no campaign contact or EMV information appears,I have not
been in contact with that campaign as of 8/1/94.  Efforts will be made
to acquire the position papers of all candidates, however during the
demonstration phase (primary) it is possible that not all candidate
information will become available in a timely manner.  Independant and
minor party candidates are also being contacted, but do not face a
primary.  Materials collected from non-primary candidates may be placed
on the E-Democracy Server before the primary, but the timeline to
obtain those postings will be focused on the general election phase.

Governor/Lieutenant Governor Candidates
E-Democracy E-Mail Volunteers (EMV)
Campaign Office Contacts/Telephone/Fax

 Democractic-Farmer-Labor Party Primary

 * Tony Bouza and Kim Stokes
P.O. Box 19454
Minneapolis, MN 55419
Telephone/Fax: (612)922-3901

   Campaign Contact:
EMV: Erik Thorsell - hey…@aol.com

* Mike Hatch and Bob Schmitz
P.O. Box 583094
Minneapolis, MN 55458-3094
Telephone/Fax: (612)349-6880/341-9463

   Campaign Contact: MT Johnson
EMV:

 * John Marty and Nancy Larson
2161 University Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55114
Telephone/Fax: (612)644-5775/644-4131

Campaign Contact: Tim Bartz - tba…@world.std.com
EMV:

* Richard Van Bergen and Glenn Mesaros
2824 Gabler Ave SE
Buffalo, MN 55313
Telephone: (612)477-4545

   Campaign Contact:
EMV:

Independent-Republican Party Primary

 * Arne Carlson and Joanne Benson
Suite 180 South
1821 University Avenue West
Telephone/Fax: (612)646-3008/646-3018

Campaign Contact: Paul Kohls
EMV: Matt Hughes - hug…@msi.umn.edu

 * Allen Quist and Doug McFarland
6600 Cahill Ave. E.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
Telephone/Fax: (612)457-2319/451-2826

Campaign Contact:
EMV: Tom Hendrikus van Oosterom - thvo…@piper.hamline.edu

(Minor party and independent candidates are not in the primary.)

 Grassroots Party

* Will Shetterly and Tim Davis
Box 7253
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Telephone/Fax: (612)721-1209

   Campaign Contact:
EMV:

Libertarian Party

 * Eric Olson and Mike Strand
Libertarian Party of Minnesota
P.O. Box 580774
Minneapolis, MN  55458-0774
Telephone/Fax: (612)223-0995/874-6803

   Campaign Contact: Jack Stecher
EMV: Jack Stecher - ste…@atlas.socsci.umn.edu

United State Senate Candidates (Primary September 13)

Democractic-Farmer-Labor Party Primary

 * Tom Foley
201 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Telephone/Fax: (612)331-2380/331-2587

   Campaign Contact: Scott Diener
EMV: Alberto Monserrate - albe…@aol.com

* Dick Franson
P.O. Box 6449
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Telephone/Fax: (612)729-6752

 * Buford Johnson
P.O. Box 1069
Brainerd, MN 56401
Telephone: (800)450-3975

* Gary Legare
RR 1 Box 40
Layfayette, MN 56054
Telephone: (507)228-8521

 * Leonard Richards
5000 Green Lane
P.O. Box 11859
St. Paul, MN 55111-0859

 * Ann Wynia
1916 University Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
Telephone/Fax: (612)646-6510/646-6944

Campaign Contact: Liem Le - 73764…@compuserve.com
EMV: Brett Rabe - br…@msc.edu

 Independent-Republican Party Primary

 * Joanell Dyrstad
8100 Penn Avenue South
Bloomington, MN
Telephone/Fax: (612)884-4552/884-4620

   Campaign Contact: Jack Uldrich
EMV:

 * Rod Grams
2013 2nd Ave. B3
P.O. Box 1029
Anoka, MN 55303
Telephone/Fax: (612)422-8570/422-0561

   Campaign Contact: Mike Amery
EMV: Scott Bertilson - sc…@geog.umn.edu

 * Harold Stassen
310 Salem Church Rd.
Sunfish Lake, MN 55118
Telephone: (612)457-5861

 * John Zeleniak
5075 Johnson St. NE
Columbia Heights, MN 55421

(Minor party and independent candidates are not in the primary.)

 Grassroots Party

 * Candice Sjostrom
90 Lakeview
Tonka Bay, MN 55331
Telephone: (612)474-3996

Independent

* Dean Barkley
P.O. Box 125
Hamel, MN 55430
Telephone: (612)479-1200

   Campaign Contact:
EMV:

Natural Law Party

 * Stephen Johnson
6200 Shingle Creek Parkway Suite 405-2
Minneapolis, MN 55430
Telephone: (612)224-8235

Socialist Workers Party

 * Marea Himelgrin
2490 University Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55430
Telephone: (612)645-1674

…

And for historical purposes our announcements from 1996 when we added media partnerships …