Campaigning in the Social Era

Over the last ten years the digital landscape has substantially evolved. Gone are the days when the majority of individuals received their news from daily newspapers and the periodic local newscast. Now we live in a world where the majority of individuals have access to all the information they could ever want at any time, day or night. People receive their news on Facebook and Twitter more so than anywhere else. This has substantially changed the way candidates can connect with their constituents. In fact, connectivity has altogether opened up the possibility for candidates to interact with individuals in a much more intimate and personal manner. In particular, social media has made it so that candidates can share a wide variety of content with a diverse number of people. Now it doesn’t take extensive town hall meetings for citizens to voice their questions and concerns. Instead, someone looking to ask a candidate a question can simply post it on Facebook or Twitter and receive an answer in close to real time.

The Patrick Williams campaign embraces this shift in campaign strategy with open arms. Patrick Williams has made it his objective to be a social media pioneer in the Shreveport/Bossier area and actively works to reach out to the citizens of Shreveport. The result of this has been a campaign that has tapped into the heart of what Shreveport really needs. Never before have we been able to confirm the needs of the constituents in the way that we can today. This has given rise to the IAmWithPatrick social media campaign. At it’s heart, this campaign is designed to allow citizens of Shreveport to express their solidarity with Patrick Williams and his vision for Shreveport by creating badges and hashtags that rebroadcast his message across individuals social networks. This new way of broadcasting support and spreading campaign media has already produced a visible following that is sure to grow as the campaign continues over the coming months. Not only is the IAmWithPatrick campaign taking place on Facebook and Twitter, but also Google+, Linkedin, Youtube, Instagram, Flickr, Blogger, and WordPress. Please consider liking Patrick Williams Facebook page and putting up the IAmWithPatrick badge to voice your support for Patrick and his dream for a healthy and thriving Shreveport.

Twelfth Night in Caddo Parish

It’s Mardi Gras season in Louisiana!

While the tradition of Twelfth night reveling can be traced back to medieval Europe, Mardi Gras has been a continuous tradition in Northern Louisiana, namely Shreveport, since the 1990’s when a huge parade of twelve Mardi Gras floats took the streets. It is now one of the biggest attractions and most successful celebrations in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Based on the tourism bureau, the parades increase year after year, helping to grow Louisiana’s income as well as Shreveport’s local economy through food, drinks, and hotel reservations, while also providing fun and family-friendly activities for the community. This local income is usually estimated to bring in over $8 million in direct revenue each year for the city of Shreveport, which is directed from overnight visitors, day trip visitors and locals. These parades also help bring in people from all around the world including as far as Finland. Over forty floats run each year and are supported on a volunteer basis, with many local companies serving as float sponsors.

Patrick hopes to continue this support and participation throughout the community not just through Mardi Gras season, but also all year long. This extreme direct revenue helps boost Shreveport’s economy from the slow decline that it is in, which is a focus that Patrick will be working on if elected Mayor.

Here is Patrick out supporting our local Krewe’s for this years’ parades, as well as the Krewe of Centaur Mardi Gras Ball.

Taking a Look Back

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”

– John F. Kennedy

Patrick C. Williams’s main purpose is to see Shreveport truly live up to its potential.

November 2007, shortly after he was elected,was just the beginning toward Williams’s impact on Shreveport.

After earning a Bachelors of Art degree from Southern University and a Master of Business Administration from Centenary College, Patrick knew he was ready to rise to the challenge of being State Representative for District 4. Now he has set his sights on Mayor. To understand where Williams’s wants to take Shreveport, it’s important to learn about what he has already accomplished for the greater good of District 4. As Representative for the State of Louisiana, Williams has voiced his solutions for Health Care, especially

in the cases of children. He has introduced and sponsored bills to provide better access toward health care services for pediatric autistic patients and stood behind Medicaid coverage for the treatment of obesity in children.  With this in mind, Patrick Williams decided to start a yearly walk from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s state capitol, at the beginning of each legislative session called “Walking The Walk”, which has gained support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a substantially-large insurance group in Louisiana. This event rose awareness for Childhood Obesity and Autism in Louisiana and especially in the Shreveport area.  Through his extra efforts, Williams was named Legislator of the Year by the YMCA and State Representative of the Year by the Louisiana Assembly on School Based Health Care.

Patrick has also helped to bring a group of investors with the Private Investment Association of China to Shreveport with the purpose of gathering ideas and gaining support for projects that would aim to enrich the area, by  supplementing existing businesses, as well as help create and grow new industries in the state and in Northern Louisiana. The generous amount of time and attention that he has already shown Shreveport is what will help Williams become and sustain the title of Shreveport’s next great mayor. Patrick Williams’ efforts in the past only speak of his great success in the future endeavors.

Get To Know Patrick

 

January 2014 has been a great month for the Patrick Williams campaign. We’ve seen an extremely large outpouring of community support in a relatively short period of time. Patrick Williams is committed to building his platform around the needs of Shreveport. In the past this would have meant constituents would have to show up to an event in order to voice their concerns or ask for specifics about his platform. However, Williams is on the fringe of social media and is committed to reaching citizens of Shreveport from anywhere at anytime. We strongly encourage all citizens to take to their favorite social media platform to keep in touch with the Williams campaign, voice their support, and most importantly ask Patrick Williams the questions that matter to you.

This approach has been largely neglected by candidates in the past and has left many voters without any real actionable knowledge about their candidates’ personal beliefs and political platforms. Patrick William’s campaign team will continue to aggressively answer any questions you might have via twitter, facebook, and many other platforms. If you are already a supporter of Patrick Williams please consider following him as well, there will be valuable information released over the next few months as the election process continues. Please consider downloading your ‘I Am With Patrick’ social badge as well to let everyone know where you stand. Listed below are all of the ways you can keep in touch with Patrick Williams via social media. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Social Media Accounts:

 

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/iamwithpatrick

 

Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/iamwithpatrick

 

Blogger:

http://iamwithpatrick.blogspot.com/

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/iamwithpatrick

 

Instagram:

http://instagram.com/iamwithpatrick

 

LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamwithpatrick

 

Google+:

https://plus.google.com/+Patrickcwilliamsiamwithpatrick/posts

 

Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113971716@N06/

As always, thank you for your continued support.

Progress. Together.

Shreveport Needs Patrick Williams

Shreveport Needs Patrick Williams.

It has been an extremely exciting month for the Patrick Williams Campaign. Since his official announcement to run for mayor at the beginning of January we have already seen an overwhelming amount of community support for his bid. The general consensus estimates that not only will Patrick Williams be an excellent mayor, but his leadership is something that the city of Shreveport desperately needs. District 8 Commissioner, John Escude eloquently stated “If you look at where we are headed we have suffered severe population decline and out[ward] migration. If you’re not growing, you’re dying”, Escude believes that a strong mayor like Williams is critical to addressing these issues and went on to state:

“It is incumbent upon us to elect the next mayor who has a vision to stop the outward migration, secure the tax base, to take care of infrastructure needs, to make us business friendly, get quality jobs here, and try to bring the school systems up a notch.”

Agreement with Williams platform is the primary driver in community support for his mayoral bid. However, his outstanding character, moral compass, and unending love for the city is what really has voters filled with excitement. When asked about his character Charlette Edwards who is the Executive Director of Ananias Inc. in Shreveport had this to say:

“Morally he is just a good guy. So you can support that. When you realize that [people you already think so much of] are actually good at what they do and want to make a difference you get really excited about supporting them, because you want to see them win.”

Friends and family of Williams could not be more excited to see Williams to lead Shreveport in a new and prosperous direction. When asked why he supported Patrick Williams, long time friend Pastor Dennis Everett Senior stated:

“Because of his heart and what he desires for the people. I’ve known him since he started in politics and he is not in it just for the position, but in order to better improve the conditions of Shreveport. I think Shreveport needs him, because he is for Shreveport.”

Even though it is relatively early in the race. It is extremely encouraging to see the outpour of love and support that Patrick Williams campaign has seen from the community. As stated by the citizens themselves, Shreveport needs Patrick Williams.

Patrick Williams on the Radio!

Patrick Williams will be on the Weekend Show(8 -10 am on Saturdays). 100.7FM,1340AM, or stream (live) from supertalk1340.com. Click “LISTEN LIVE”.