Lawmakers often need helping hand embracing technology

SPRINGFIELD - Lisle Republican Mike Connelly has a sizable friend base on Facebook, but in order to see his standing, he has to ask his daughter's permission.

During his recent campaign for the Illinois House, Connelly thought the social networking site could help, but his 17-year-old daughter Maureen was worried about her 43-yer-old dad's access. So the two came to a compromise.

She set up a group for him.

"I think she's afraid all of her friends will befriend me, whatever that means. I'm still not, you know, hip to that," Connelly said.

The suburban legislator is an example of the growing number of state lawmakers who say they're trying to embrace technology, according to a survey released Thursday by the Illinois Technology Partnership. More than 20 percent of the 177 lawmakers responded, with all but one reporting using the Internet to communicate with constituents. Of those responding, 50 percent use Facebook as a communication tool.

A quick scan of the social Web site found several suburban lawmakers, though many - like Connelly - admit to having a younger person helping hand in creating the profiles.

State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, has both a profile and a political support group but says she is currently looking for someone to help her run them.

"I'm not very adept at using it," said Nekritz, 52. "I had my 22-year-old intern who got it set up for me, but he's now working full-time so I've got to figure out how to use it myself." The Illinois Technology Partnership report found that lawmakers are realizing the benefits of figuring out new technology.

"The results of our survey show that Illinois legislators are recognizing that technology isn't a novelty, it is a necessity," said Aviva Gibbs, the group's executive director. "Having a 'D' or an 'R' beside your name is less important than an '@' sign."

Gibbs said her group is looking into training legislators on how to use Facebook.

Both Nekritz and Connelly are among those interested.

"It is something I am very much looking at, because it is a way to communicate not just with kids, but middle age folks like me and a lot of my friends have Facebook accounts," said Connelly.

Connelly currently has just shy of 200 friends and says even after the training he will defer to Maureen on all things Facebook.