CARBONDALE - Term limits may apply to political office, but the Internet is forever.
The advent of social media provides a new channel for city, borough and school officials to interact with colleagues and constituents. It also blurs the line between personal and professional usage on popular sites for those in the public eye.
Carbondale Mayor Justin Taylor regularly interacts with residents on Facebook, posting news about the city. Scranton City Councilman Pat Rogan uses Twitter and Facebook to explain his votes. Old Forge Superintendent R. Scott Jeffery tweets links to educational resources.
Mr. Taylor also posts about restaurants he is visiting, and Mr. Rogan commented on impending snow and the Atlanta Braves. Mr. Jeffery tweeted about taking his daughter to see the Lion King on Broadway for her birthday last month.
All three officials described their accounts as personal, but realize that because of their positions, that doesn't mean private or exempt them from questions.
"I cautiously operate on that page because of the fact that I do know that even Justin Taylor doing something is going to reflect on Mayor Justin Taylor doing something," the Pioneer City leader said.
The majority of his posts link city news, articles and upcoming events, but last month, he posted an anonymous letter from a resident questioning the city's decision to include the names of deceased residents' in a list of delinquent taxpayers published in a newspaper. The letter also critiqued the Pioneer Plaza hotel project, which it stated would create a "haven" for prostitutes and several racial groups.
Mr. Taylor's response conveyed his disdain for the writer's opinion.
"To stereotype or bash any person based on race, color, sex, religious creed, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability is simply wrong," he wrote in the post.
He continued, saying the letter "was quickly disposed of like a piece of garbage, just like its author."
The message was supported by most of the responders, but some questioned whether the mayor's comments had gone too far.
In a later interview, Mr. Taylor explained that the writer did not represent Carbondale,
"That particular letter set me off, personally and professionally," he said, though he stood by his words that pointed out "the backwards mindset" some people have about the community.
A study by Pew Research Center showed that 66 percent of American adults on the internet are using social media and 25 percent are using the service to debate and discuss political issues, according to Kristen Yarmey, digital services librarian at The University of Scranton.
A disclaimer in Mr. Jeffery's Twitter biography reads, "views are my own." He still tweets cautiously, sticking to mostly education-related articles. He won't even post about the latest professional baseball scores.
"Tone can be misread and misinterpreted sometimes in text," he said, listing the possible pitfalls.
"I think the audience becomes very important with social media," Ms. Yarmey said, noting that many government agencies create a set of guidelines for appropriate usage. Mr. Jeffery, Mr. Rogan and Mr. Taylor's governing bodies have not established such guidelines.
But Mr. Rogan has one rule he follows.
"Don't post anything you don't want everyone the world to see," he said.
On his page, there have only been one or two occasions where he has curbed conversation.
"I always allow for free discussion ... as long as people don't get out of line," he said.
All three agreed that they are examined a little more closely, particularly online because of their positions.
"I had to learn early on that not everyone is going to like me," Mr. Taylor said.
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter