iPhone App Tracks Candidates

There was a time when having a politician in your pocket could only mean that you were up to no good. In this age of smart phones and pocket mobility, however, it might simply mean that you are civically engaged. Election Hub, a new iPhone application conceived and designed by two Tulane alumni, puts the entire field of mayoral and city council candidates into the pockets of New Orleanians.

The app, which is downloadable for free, provides users with up-to-the-minute facts, statistics and news about Saturday's (Feb. 6) New Orleans elections.

Tulane law alumnus Zach Kupperman says Election Hub was an outgrowth of his website, PolicyPitch, which is designed to enable citizens to become more involved in policy decisions. He wanted to launch something special from the website for "this pivotal election."

Kupperman turned to Neel Sus to design the application. Sus, who graduated from Tulane with a mechanical engineering degree, owns Susco Solutions, a software-development firm.

The first version of Election Hub was available for download at the beginning of year. Kupperman and Sus contribute no editorial content, but rather compile information provided by the candidates as well as financial disclosure information pulled from the state board of ethics website and regularly updated news articles.

The application also allows users to make comments so they can share ideas and participate in surveys.

"One of the goals is to generate conversation," says Kupperman. "It's not just a way to follow information."

According to Sus, the public is ready for apps such as Election Hub.

"I feel people are comfortable now opening their Chase banking info on their iPhone and paying their bills," says Sus. "We are at a point now that people actually are going to start demanding everything in their pockets."

The two hope to develop Election Hub as a multiplatform application that can be used with other smart phones.