Campaign Announcment

For Immediate Release

Alderman Bill Given Promises Innovative Campaign in Bid for Third Term

Grande Prairie, AB (June 28, 2007) – Bill Given today announced he will seek a third term as alderman in the upcoming municipal election. Noted for bringing a fresh approach to community initiatives over the past six years, he plans on delivering his campaign through a first-of-its-kind approach for Grande Prairie.

“This is an exciting time in Grande Prairie, and I'm excited about serving on Council. I want to continue to be an active voice for the community,” said Alderman Given. “Some people look at our rapid growth and only see the stresses that are a result. While I recognize that day to day issues like crime, potholes and the cleanliness of the city need to be addressed, I also see opportunities for really positive improvements to our city. I am dedicated to engaging the community over the next three years and working with residents to shape the future of our City."

In an effort to be more accessible to the public while reducing the intrusiveness of the campaign Given also unveiled his plans to integrate innovative new elements into his campaign.

“My goal is to engage and assist the public with up-to-date information, easily accessed online at any time with what I'm calling my eCampaign. For the first time ever, Grande Prairie residents will be able to access information about my ideas, schedule, and the initiatives that are currently underway in the city, at their convenience 24 hours a day. I'll be able to answer questions at anytime with much more detail than could ever be done with a just brochure or a two minute stop on the doorstep."

Some of the initiatives Given plans to integrate into the eCampaign through his website are; a Blog that currently boasts two months worth of articles focused on local issues, events and concerns; Public Opinion Polls for residents to provide feedback; a Calendar of Events and Appointments so residents can plan to meet Bill; an Electronic Newsletter; and a campaign on the popular social networking website Facebook.

“I understand and appreciate that people in Grande Prairie are busy - family time, work and even just relaxing are important, and I want to ensure my campaign respects the personal time of Grande Prairie residents,” said Given.
Given hopes the eCampaign will ensure he is more accessible than through traditional campaign methods and he even encourages the public to call or email him directly using the contact information on the website.

"The views of the residents of this city are important keys to shaping it's future. I am more than happy to schedule a face-to-face meeting with anyone who wants to find out more about me or to talk about the opportunities for Grande Prairie,” said Given. “Most importantly, however, I’m happy to do it at a time that is convenient for them.”
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About Bill Given
Born in Grande Prairie and elected for the first time in 2001 at the age of 24, Given is the youngest person to ever serve on City Council. Now just 30 years old, Given serves as the chairman of the Protective Services Committee and the Affordable Housing Building Committee for the city. Active in the community, Bill is a member and past president of the Grande Prairie Rotaract Club, an avid basketball player and volunteer, a board member for the Disabled Transportation Society and an organizer of the successful Luge World Championship at Nitehawk Ski Area. Given runs a business as a Marketing and Communications consultant and is currently working towards his National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration through the U of A.

For additional information, please contact:
Bill Given
Cell: (780) 814-0518
Website: www.votegiven.com
Email: bill@votegiven.com