Governmental Affairs Committee

by:
Wendy Buck and Elizabeth Peters

This year, the Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce will begin endorsing political candidates. This process not only provides recommendations to members of candidates who are friendly to small and large businesses, but it also allows those candidates to use the power of our name in their campaigns. Having the Chamber’s endorsement means a candidate has been thoroughly reviewed, interviewed, and tested as the right choice for business in our community.

The chamber underwent an extensive process in making this decision. Throughout 2009, volunteer leadership sought ways to utilize advocacy as a means of fulfilling its mission – To create and promote economic vitality for business in the south metro region. During the 2010 planning process in January of this year, the board set as its third highest priority to “improve the political voice for business through candidate advocacy.” On March 10, the members overwhelmingly approved bylaws amendments that paved the way for the chamber to endorse candidates. The board of directors approved a detailed endorsement policy, and a plan was created and approved by the Executive Committee for the 2010 election season.

Wilsonville will now join other area chambers that endorse candidates, such as Beaverton, Canby, Hillsboro, North Clackamas, Salem, Newberg, Vancouver, and Portland.

During July and August we will be hearing from candidates for seven races: State Senator, State Representative, Metro President, two Clackamas County Commissioner, and two Wilsonville City Councilor positions. These races were selected because they have the greatest impact on our member businesses.

A fair and open process has been established to evaluate every candidate who wishes to have the endorsement of the Chamber. First, a completed questionnaire must be received and reviewed in order for a candidate to be considered for endorsement. Completed questionnaires will be distributed to all voting members (Voting eligibility is determined by a Chamber member representative attending two meetings within the last six meetings and the current meeting) of the Government Affairs Committee in advance of review panels on July 14 and August 4 (held during a regularly scheduled meeting). All GAC members in good standing will participate in the review and discussion, and a private vote will be taken at the meeting. Candidates winning the majority of voting GAC members will be recommended to the board for endorsement.

This new step is an important way that the chamber can deliver greater value to our members. Many choose to be involved with the chamber because of its potential to represent their interests in the public policy arena. We know that successful business organizations have a strong advocacy component. Without a doubt, a chamber that can endorse candidates is able to become engaged in policy on behalf of its membership at a higher level.