New technology often surfaces in campaigns -- whether it was candidate websites, scientific polling, automated calling, Facebook, Twitter, or plastic yard signs.

City Council President hopeful Ben Stuckart and City Councilman Richard Rush appear to be the first local candidates using the latest technology to get the word out: Quick Response codes -- boxes that can be quickly scanned by smartphones to redirect users to websites.

Rush, who faces former City Councilman Mike Allen in his reelection bid, said one of his supporters suggested placing the codes on his campaign yard signs. Rush said that didn't turn out to be practical but that his campaign decided the codes would work better on fliers left on doorsteps "so people could actually hear me speak to them."

The bar code links to a Rush campaign video.

Stuckart used the code on a flier during his hotly contested primary. He faces former Mayor Dennis Hession in the November election.