Byline: By Susie Steckner, The Arizona Republic
The trio huddled together and plotted to keep a watchful eye on politicians, uncover bad
laws and empower voters all across the state.
They had no undercover operation in mind, just a simple click on the computer.
And with that, they were able to tap into information about elected officials representing constituents in more than 150 cities from Ajo to Alpine.
With another click, they could find out which county supervisor represents their area, which congressional district they belong to or which legislative committees are meeting and where.
More importantly, they discovered an easy way to voice their compliment or criticism about almost anyone just short of the Oval Office.
''I've thought about running for office a few times,'' said Valley activist Donna Neill, staring at the computer screen. ''But I know there's people out there like us, and it scares the hell out of me.''
The new Web site comes courtesy of NAILEM - or Neighborhood Activists Inter-Linked Empowerment Movement - which Neill and Paul Enniss helped found three years ago.
The grass-roots coalition has written proposals and lobbied for pro-neighborhood bills during the past two legislative sessions, and members plan to go at it again with the opening today of the 1998 session.
Members have had several victories, including laws that give neighborhood associations greater involvement in the state Liquor Control Board and the right to testify as crime victims when neighborhood crimes such as drug dealing occur.
The Web site was created by NAILEM member, Webmaster and longtime activist Richard Donley Fox.
The hope is to make it easier to connect constituents with elected officials and the governmental process.
''A lot of times community folks say, 'I didn't know that,' '' said Fox. ''Now we can hook them in.''
Sure, there are scores of Web sites that constituents can access. But the key, Fox said, is putting the information in one central location - www.nailem.org - and making it easy for political and computer novices alike.
Fox, 47, has devoted the past six weeks to creating the site. He had volunteered time and money to try to have it running by today's opening of the 1998 Legislature.
Fox describes himself as a hippie who somehow got bitten by the computer bug. But he is no stranger to activism, having served on various neighborhood and city boards and committees - most notably the Phoenix Block Watch Advisory Board.
Now, Fox has set out to create Web sites that would both bring in an income and further his cause to help neighborhoods.
At the NAILEM Web site, for instance, with one click someone in Chandler can first get the names, addresses and phone and fax numbers for the mayor and City Council. Then the user can access information about his or her county supervisors, state senators and representatives, governor and congressmen.
The user can also check out Web pages for cities, counties, the state, the state Legislature and Congress.
A central bulletin board will allow users across the state to share information about problems in their communities or solutions they have discovered.
''We want people to feel empowered,'' said Neill. ''They need to know that they can make a difference, that they do make a difference.''
Color photo by Tim Koors/The Arizona Republic Richard Fox shows NAILEM's Web site off for fellow activist Jerry Neill as Donna Neill takes a phone call.