City Council speaker Gifford Miller is using Web sites the way earlier generations of politicians used free mail. Whether it is to rally support against the West Side Stadium or to promote a "17 Seats" initiative to reduce class size in New York City public schools, Gifford Miller is putting up Web sites to educate voters about important issues. Normally, such use of the Internet would go unnoticed; however, skeptics point out that the campaign season has already started and speaker Gifford Miller is really using the Internet sites as part of his mayoral campaign.

Miller's spokesperson responds: "Using the Internet is an appropriate and innovative way to keep New Yorkers informed about issues debated in city government and to give them a vehicle to voice support for a better education for their children and for critical budget priorities over a bad West Side stadium idea. Gifford Miller thinks that's the best of democracy - citizens connecting directly with the people they elect."

(photo credit: New York Times)