Using Opponent's Name for Website a 'Savvy Technique,' Candidate Says

Michael Colannino began campaigning as an Independent candidate for Chester Township mayor after the June Primary Election.

Part of that campaigning was to design a website with the candidate's background and platform. Colannino took it a step further, however, and registered multiple domain names for his website.

A domain name is the title of the website a user will type into the address bar, directing him or her to the proper web page.

Colannino not only purchased the web address name of colanninoformayor.com, but now owns the domain name of coggerformayor.com. Cogger being the last name of current Chester Township mayor Bill Cogger, who is running for re-election. When someone types in the domain name coggerformayor.com, it directs them to Colonnino's campaign page.

The purchase of the domain name is completely legal, and a technique Colonnino says is widely used among businesses.

"It's a savvy technique that corporations use all the time," the candidate told Patch. "I don't think there's anything wrong with it. We purchased the domain name as part of our campaign and now we own it."

Colonnino and Cogger have differed on issues in the run-up to the election, and the challenger has said in the past the township and government needs to be run more like a business to seek efficiencies.

The General Election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls in Chester Township are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.