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Social media has been the domain of geeks like me who get excited about the possibilities of what technology can do.

One of the changes that has come about in the past year is that our leaders are starting to embrace social media.

Perhaps the most recognized example of leaders embracing social media is the Barack Obama campaign.

The Obama campaign used social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, Flickr, and on and on.

You could not say that he won because of social media. Rather, his strategy, which included social media, led to his success at the polls.

Just being online is not enough.

With this, many other leaders have been quick to adopt social media as a part of their community presence. There are many examples of this.

At the national level, many members of Congress have adopted social media.

Here in Texas, the most recognized Congressman using social media is John Culberson.

At the state level, many of our legislators took up Twitter and were able to shape the way news is reported. Rather than react to stories written about them, they created the stories.

At the county level, County Judge J.D. Salinas has dipped his toe into social media through Facebook and his blog.

Locally, candidates are using social media as minor parts of their campaigns.

Churches and non-profits are also slowly starting to recognize the value of social media.

The main difference between the presidential election and the local leaders is a matter of scale and budget.

Obviously, a multi-million dollar campaign can afford to hire consultants to figure out how to leverage social media networks. The local leader has pretty much trial and error.

Although leaders who are adopting social media are on the right trail, they are not using it to its fullest potential. Still, it's exciting that they are starting to engage the public.

Those with the know-how can make a big difference in today's political landscape by virtue of whose campaigns they guide to victory.

With time, I think you will see an improvement in how we interact with government and participate in elections due to the impact of social media. 

For now, our leaders are beginning to venture into the social media media landscape and finding their voice.