Back in 2008 the effect was largely unspoken, even deniable. Today, there is no doubt — Chris Peterson’s conservative-focused website The North Haven Way, and similar citizen blogs across America, make a permanent and consequential impact on local opinion and politics.

Our lives are influenced daily by internet content – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Online opinion sources, specifically Peterson’s site, have affected North Haven government and the voting constituency. Recently, First Selectman Michael Freda began a question-and-answer feature on The North Haven Way.

“I truly believe in today’s society with the public having so much accessibility to so much information,” Freda said. “The leaders of companies and municipalities should be aware that the need to communicate has gone far beyond traditional mediums.”

“In the past, traditional mediums have been, let’s say, town meetings in North Haven, or a newspaper article. Now we have Facebook, blogs, the emergence of North Haven TV — which I think is great — and the public-speaking aspect of our meetings,” he added. “Municipal leaders need to plug themselves into all of the new outlets that people can capture their news from.”

Freda said he would continue to answer questions on The North Haven Way, as well as participate in live video chats held by the New Haven Register. “I like this,” he said. “I like being in the spotlight. I enjoy being held accountable. My goal is to properly communicate with everybody we can, and answer all the public’s questions.”

Freda reads The North Haven Way. “I look at it, not every day, but occasionally,” he said. “I read all of North Haven’s news outlets.”

In elections, every ballot counts — blogs can offer viewpoints and insight for uninformed and independent voters.

Challenging former First Selectman and Democrat Janet McCarty last year for Town Hall’s top position, Freda answered questions on The North Haven Way. McCarty did not, creating a backlash of negative comments online. Steve Fontana, who lost his reelection bid last month for state representative, declined invitation for comment on Peterson’s site.

In unseating Fontana, a 14-year incumbent, Dave Yaccarino answered queries put to him on The North Haven Way. Technology has transformed how voters learn about candidates, Yaccarino stated, but constituents’ desire for honest responses from politicians has not altered.

“Everything has changed,” he said, “but, whether it’s from a blog or newspaper, you should always answer questions, no matter where they came from.”

Yaccarino is unsure of The North Haven Way’s exact audience size, but counts himself as a regular reader. “I look at it once a week,” he said. “But Chris is the only blogger I read. I think he does a really good job as far as the facts.”

“Yes, the blog affects things somewhat,” he added. “But, like anything in print, you have to digest it, take it with a grain of salt, and look at it from both sides.”

Blogs have a place, according to Yaccarino. “Like anything else they are a good piece of the puzzle,” he said.

Peterson believes his site carries local significance. “I think my blog has made an impact on public opinion and local politics,” he said. “The candidates I’ve made a point in not supporting, they’ve all lost, even for smaller boards and commissions.”

To produce his long-lived and well-read site, Peterson keeps up with bloggers from all over. “I read a good dozen blogs,” he said, “ones from Hartford, Norwalk, Norwich, ones from all over our political spectrum, both liberal and conservative sources.”

Additionally, posts from national blogs are common content on The North Haven Way, depicting blogs as influential voices countrywide.

Precisely how many town officials read The North Haven way is unknown to Peterson. “I’d say a good dozen,” he said. “But, honestly, I think they all do. Many times I’ve written something and was told by one town official that it was read by three others.”

Walter Spader, author of the liberal-based blog North Haven Democrat, believes Peterson faithful readership is politically savvy. “Everyone who has an interest in local town politics clearly reads Chris’ website,” Spader said. “He has the hyper-local market cornered. People visit to disagree with him or agree with him. He has a loyal following on both sides.”

“People who disagree with him can vilify him,” Spader added. “I think he’s a good guy. His blog is a labor of love. And Chris doesn’t shy away from letting his personality be known.”

Accordingly, The North Haven Way can be a factionalizing force, generating both genuine appreciation and sharp contempt for its presence. One factor which could cause censure, a feature ubiquitous across innumerable websites, is the ability for any user to comment anonymously. Such posts are opinions authentic to their writers, who have full right to personal expression, but are not necessarily truthful, despite the fact that comments can influence others.

“People who comment on blogs don’t always have all the information to draw a reasonable conclusion or offer possible solutions,” said North Haven’s interim superintendent of schools Patricia Brozek. “I think that without that information, sometimes the comments are not healthy for the community when they don’t have all the facts.”

“Everybody has an opinion,” she added, “which is their right, of course, but when you try to draw resolutions, you need to have all the appropriate information and facts.”

Freda concurred. “There has to be delineation between protecting the First Amendment and not allowing baseless and vicious accusations,” he said. “In my opinion, baseless and vicious accusations should not be protected. They create reckless forms of opinion that only form polarization within society.”

Like countless town officials, and McCarty before him, Freda receives anonymous praise and disapproval on The North Haven Way. “I don’t mind the criticism,” he said. “I’m always looking for constructive criticism.”

“Somehow, there has to be a distinction between constructive commentary and reckless commentary,” he added.

Peterson stands by his blog’s anonymous comments, which can total over 100 for a single day’s entry. “I present the comments, but give opportunity for people to counter them,” he said. “If something up there is inaccurate, I want to be able to open the floor for people who do know the facts to counter them.”

Spader is not a fan of anonymous comments. “I think they are bad,” he said. “At town meetings, you have to stand up during public comment and say ‘Here’s my name and address.’ It makes the person a little bit more responsible with what they have to say.”