{mosads}Q: When did you join Twitter?
A: My official account’s first day was Jan. 17, 2011. While I was not an early adopter, I decided to join as my staff and I saw the ways that Twitter became such a popular and useful way to connect with constituents and communicate in real time. My weekly column this week actually reviewed some of the many ways that I have been able to use Twitter to be a more effective representative.
Q: What do you see as the most significant purpose of Twitter for you?
A: My Twitter feed is primarily work-related, so I find it useful for receiving feedback from constituents on legislative matters, keeping the public informed about resources available to them, and communicating my activity on the public’s behalf in Washington and Kentucky. The Stop Online Piracy Act and the REINS Act are good examples. From time to time, though, my Twitter followers will see a tweet regarding personal interests of mine — for example, cheering on my alma mater before the Army-Navy game last fall.
Q: Example of a “best” Twitter moment?
A: In early March, the real-time nature of Twitter proved its use for us in Kentucky. A mammoth outbreak of severe weather and tornadoes affected the district, and my Twitter feed and others became a resource for gathering information about the storms and relief efforts. Individuals as varied as a Kentucky meteorologist and a California Red Cross volunteer appreciated the help in spreading the word.
Q: Example of a “worst” Twitter moment?
A: I play things pretty close to the vest when it comes to social media, so I have managed to avoid a “worst” moment on Twitter. If I had to pick something, though, I would probably say the early months of figuring out how to use Twitter and the lingo that goes with it involved a learning curve.
Follow Davis on Twitter @RepGeoffDavis, where he currently has 2,156 followers and is looking for more this week as a contender in the Twitter round of the GOP’s New Media Challenge.
Previous “Follow Friday” Twitter profiles have included Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), Mike Honda (Calif.), Jim Himes (Conn.), Rush Holt (N.J.), Jared Polis (Colo.), Judy Chu (Calif.) and Jackie Speier (Calif.) and Republican Reps. Bob Latta (Ohio), Glenn Thompson (Pa.), John Shimkus (Ill.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.), Billy Long (Mo.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), as well as the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.