Newspaper Article
Spelling counts when hunting candidate on Web
By Mannix Porterfield/REGISTER-HERALD REPORTER
Surfing the Net for the Web page of Philip Stevens?
Make sure you spell the first name of the Republican candidate for the House of Delegates in the 27th District right.
Adding an extra "L" to his first name takes you in the wrong direction - right to the page of his rival, incumbent Democrat Virginia Mahan.
The unusual political tactic came to light when a voter plugged into Stevens, or thought he did, anyway.
But like many, he typed in two "L's" in the candidate's first name, and up popped the photo and data of Mahan.
"I was not aware until (Monday) morning," Stevens said. "I got a call from a constituent."
"I didn't know you could do such things. I'm not that computer literate. My concern is that once again, here in West Virginia, we see unethical behavior that might not be illegal but certainly is dishonest and deceitful."
Stevens, a retired history teacher now living in Grassy Meadows, is making a second bid at upsetting Mahan.
He was not amused by Mahan's use of his name to direct unsuspecting constituents from the Stevens page to hers.
Reached at the Capitol where July interims are in session, Mahan said she was unaware the misspelled name of her opponent took surfers to her Web page. Stevens produced a printout showing the registrant of the site is Three River Avian Center, a non-profit group based in Brooks, in Mahan's district.
"They're non-profit," said Gary Abernathy, executive director of the state Republican Party.
"They're not allowed to engage in any political activity whatsoever."
Abernathy said the GOP already has begun looking into the matter.
"We'll look at both legal and ethical violations and file whatever appropriate complaints that we need to file," he added.
When told about the Stevens-to-Mahan detour on the Internet, Mahan initially indicated she was unware of the setup.
"Cool," she said, when apprised of it.
Mahan said she tried a number of search engines but didn't get the same results.
"I got all kinds of other Phillips even more famous," she said.
"I didn't do it. I had no idea. It's one of those things that happens, I guess."
Mahan said she cannot understand why Stevens is miffed about the Web page but was attempting to reach the Webmaster to see why it was crafted in that fashion.
"It's a tempest in a teapot," she said. "Its a free-ranging democracy. To my knowledge, there's nothing illegal about it. I can't understand why he'd be upset. I'm upset that he's running against me."
Stevens felt the detour to his rival's Web page was unfair.
"That's not how things should be done," he said.
"And I don't think that portrays a person's character very well that they would do anything they can to either be elected or stay elected."
At first, Stevens acknowledged the trick angered him.
"Now, I'm more disappointed that this individual has been in Charleston representing me for these number of years," he said.
"It's not only unfair but a shame for the residents of the 27th District. I think that ranks her right up there with (House Education Chairman) Jerry Mezzatesta as far as I'm concerned. That's pretty lowdown."
Stevens was undecided about sticking a disclaimer on his real Web site, but said he might have to tinker with his literature to make sure everything is spelled properly.
"The right thing for her to do is pull it off, or if she wanted to be fair, direct them to my Web site," he said.
Stevens said the ruse should be investigated by Secretary of State Joe Manchin, since he has vowed "zero tolerance" for election abuses.
- E-mail: mporterfield@register-herald.com
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