gov affairs endorsement policy procedure
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Business Supports Business Political Action Committee
Policy and Procedure Guidelines (Download Here)
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce has a long tradition of political activism on behalf of its membership by taking positions on issues important to the business community and beginning July 1, 2011, the Chamber Board may also publicly endorse a slate of candidates running for office in an effort to promote the mission and goals of Chamber members through government and political activities.
It is the intention that the Chamber select a candidate(s) to support for each office unless specific reasons exist to support endorsing no candidates. The Chamber also intends to endorse or oppose ballot initiatives/propositions having an effect on business. Each endorsement (or non-endorsement) should be communicated to our membership and the public in a clear and concise message.
Offices to be considered for endorsement during election cycles will be communicated to the Chamber membership and candidates during normal and special election cycles and at a minimum of 60 days prior to each election.
Proposed Process:
Candidate Questionnaires - All candidates for office will be sent written questionnaires to be completed and returned to the Chamber for review. Candidate responses will be scored on how their views match up with the Board’s positions of key legislative issues, ability to communicate effectively and ability to serve at the level of government being sought. Questions will be developed by staff and/or the Governmental Affairs Committee/Business Supports Business Political Action Committee (BSB PAC) and approved by the Governmental Affairs Committee. This will be accomplished 60-120 days prior to any election.
Candidate Interviews - Personal interviews will be conducted with all candidates for office (being considered for endorsement). Candidate responses will be scored on how their views match up with the Board’s positions of key legislative issues, ability to communicate effectively and ability to serve at the level of government being sought. Questions will be developed by staff and/or the Governmental Affairs Committee/BSB PAC and approved by the Governmental Affairs Committee. These interviews will not be video-recorded for public broadcast. Instead, a Chamber program will be video-recorded promoting endorsed candidates and aired during the election cycle. Interviews will be conducted at a specified date.
Issue Interviews – Interviews with the proponents and opponents of ballot initiatives (being considered for endorsement) will also be conducted with a similar scoring method, time frame and determination of questions. Additionally, a Chamber program may be video-election cycle just prior to the election.
Recommendations to the Board – Endorsement and/or issue-initiative recommendations will be developed by the Governmental Affairs Committee at a specified date.
Board of Director Endorsements – The recommended slate of candidates and ballot proposal supported will be presented to the Board for approval 60 days prior to any election.
SAMPLE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
(This form may be used during Endorsement Process)
Name _____________________________ Date __________________________
Mission: The mission of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce is to enhance and promote the business environment and the economic well being of our communities.
_______________ CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT
20____ CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
_____________________________________________________________________________________
By completing this questionnaire and returning it to the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce (314 London Bridge Road, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 Attn: Candidate Endorsements) by ________, 20__, you are officially requesting the endorsement of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce in the upcoming election for _______________. You may use additional paper to record your responses if necessary.
Upon receipt of this questionnaire, Chamber staff will make contact with you to schedule a personal interview. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce at 928-844-4115.
Questions:
Why have you chosen to run for office?
How can you make a difference as an elected official in ______________?
As ____________, what steps will you take to further the goals of the business community in ______________________?
In your view, what are the top three challenges currently facing ______________________?
How would you address these challenges?
What is your view on taxes?
What is your view on the current quality of ___________________ services?
Please rank in order from 1 to 10 the priority you would place on city services ( 1 being the highest)
_______Fire / Emergency services
______Parks
______Youth Recreation Programs
______Industrial Development
______Downtown Development
______Police Protection
______Municipal Infrastructure
______Public Transport
______Code Compliance / Anti-Blight
(other services may be added or some deleted)
What ideas / suggestions do you have to make ________________ a more business-friendly community?
Do you favor or oppose working more aggressively with other area municipalities to effectuate the consolidation of services?
What separates you from the other candidates running for ____________?
What steps would you take as ______________ TO “Produce a positive economic climate” in ________________________.
Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Good luck with your campaign.
SAMPLE ISSUE-INITIATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE
(This form may be used during Endorsement Process)
Name _____________________________ Date __________________________
Mission: The mission of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce is to enhance and promote the business environment and the economic well being of our communities.
_______________ ISSUE-INITIATIVE ENDORSEMENT
20____ CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
_____________________________________________________________________________________
By completing this questionnaire and returning it to the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce (314 London Bridge Road, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 Attn: Initiative Endorsements) by ________, 20__, you are officially requesting the endorsement of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce in the upcoming election for _______________. You may use additional paper to record your responses if necessary.
Upon receipt of this questionnaire, Chamber staff will make contact with you to schedule a personal interview. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce at 928-844-4115.
Questions:
Why have you chosen to advocate or oppose this issue?
How can your organization make a difference with the passage/defeat of this initiative?
How will this initiative benefit/harm the business environment in ____________?
In your view, what are the top three challenges currently facing the business community as it relates to this initiative?
How would you address these challenges?
(other services may be added or some deleted)
How will the passing/defeat of this initiative make ____________ a more business friendly ____________?
Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Good luck with your campaign.
SAMPLE LETTER ANNOUNCEING ENDORSEMENTS
(This letter may be used when announcing endorsement)
Dear Candidate:
On behalf of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce, I would like to express our appreciation to you for taking the time to participate in the Chamber’s candidate endorsement process. Your participation was a great value to our membership as we learned your views about _________________________________. The Chamber Board of Directors chose to endorse the following candidates for the _______ election:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Again, thank you for participating in the Chamber’s process. Good luck to you in the election.
Sincerely,
SAMPLE LETTER FOR ALL CANDIDATES
(This letter may be used to invite all candidates for personal interviews
following the return of written questionnaires.)
Date
Dear Candidates:
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding personal interviews on ______________ as part of its Candidate Endorsement Process for local, state and federal elections. The interviews will be conducted between XXX a.m. and XXX p.m. at the Chamber office, 314 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City, and will be approximately 10-15 minutes in length. If you would like to participate, please contact me at (928) 855-4115 or lisak@havasuchamber.com, to schedule time for your interview.
Sincerely,
Lisa Krueger, IOM, ACE
President/CEO
SAMPLE LETTER FOR ENDORSED CANDIDATES – INVITATION FOR VIDEO RECORDED INTERVIEWS
(This letter may be used to invite Chamber-endorsed candidates for recorded interviews)
Date
Re: Video Recorded Interviews
Dear Candidate:
Thank you for returning the written questionnaire portion of the candidate endorsement process undertaken each election year by the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce. Your participation is appreciated as it assists our organization in reviewing the candidates and making an informed endorsement recommendation to the Chamber membership.
The second part of the endorsement process involves live interviews with candidates to be conducted by the Chamber staff and committee members. These interviews will be approximately 5-10 minutes in length, and recorded and broadcast on the Chamber website, www.LakeHavasuVotes.com, and also on our media partners’ stations and/or websites for the public to view. Candidates seeking the Chamber of Commerce endorsement must participate in the interview portion of the process. Interviews will be conducted on xxxxx xx, 20xx at XXXXXXXXX. Please plan to attend according to your scheduled time (below). Feel free to contact me at 928-855-4115 or at chamberpac@havasuchamber.com if you have any questions.
Candidates for CCCCC office, XXXX XX, XXXX – XX p.m.
Candidates for SSSSSS office, xxxxxx, xxxx – xx p.m.
Sincerely,
Lisa Krueger, IOM, ACE
President/CEO
SAMPLE SCORE SHEET
(This form may be used to score candidates in process)
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Candidate Endorsements 2012
Candidate Interview Reviews
Business Supports Business Committee Member: ___________________________________
Scoring directions: Each candidate’s live response should be scored from 1 to 10 (1 as the lowest, 10 as the highest) based upon the responsiveness to the questions and how the candidate’s viewpoints match up with the mission of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce organization. Please fill out one scoring sheet for each candidate and return to the Chamber office by XXXXX, XX, 20XX.
Candidate: __________________________________
Scoring:
Opening Statement ________
Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce;
and based on your feelings about the relevancy
of the Chamber, why should the business
community vote for you? ________
What is the role of the _______ and
as a _________, what will you do
to bring business and jobs to Lake Havasu City? ________
What industry/industries do you feel
are a good fit to create sustainable jobs
that enhance the economic well-being
of the community? ________
Many believe tourism is the number one economic
driver in Lake Havasu City. What do you feel is the second
economic driver and as a __________ how would you
implement ideas and foster that industry? _______
Many are concerned about the future business
environment for __________. What do you think
is the most important issue facing our _____in the next 4
years and what will you do to address this issue? _______
From your personal business experience, education
and training, what management strengths and business
qualifications will you bring to the city council? _______
Closing Summary: ________
Total: ________
Comments:
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR RECORDED INTERVIEW OF ENDORSED CANDIDATES/INITIATIVES
(This form may be used when interviewing endorsed candidates for video recording – questions will be determined by office/issue)
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Candidate Endorsements 2012
1. Candidate Introduction Statement (30 seconds)
2. Interview Questions (4-8 minutes)
a. What would you do as a XXXXX to address unemployment and improve the job base in our community?
b. Why should the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce endorse you as a candidate for XXXXX?
c. What is your attendance record (if in office)? What kind of time can you devote to the office (if not currently in office)?
d. How might you vote on the following issues?
1. CCCCCCCCCC
2. BBBBBBBBBBBBB
3. VVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
e. More questions
f. More questions
3. Candidate Summary (30 seconds)
SAMPLE MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
(This announcement may be used to announce news conference regarding endorsements)
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a news conference on XXXXXXX, XX, CCCC, at XX a.m. at the Chamber Office to announce its candidate endorsements for XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Chamber Board Chair XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and Chamber President/CEO XXXXXXXXXXX will preside over the news conference and be available for interviews.
Please contact the Chamber at 928-855-4115 or lisak@havasuchamber.com for more information.
SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE REGARDING ENDORSEMENTS
(This press release may be used to announce Chamber endorsements)
Date
For immediate release
Contact: Lisa Krueger, President/CEO
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
928-855-4115
lisak@havasuchamber.com
Chamber endorses CCCCCCCCC BBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has announced that it has endorsed CCCCCCBBBBBBBBBB for VVVVVVVVVVV in the upcoming election on November XX, 2012.
“Quote here from Chairman or CEO………….”.
The Chamber, with its endorsement, will now work publicly to support efforts of the CCCBBB campaign as well as the campaigns of other candidates for public office also endorsed by the Chamber. The entire list of endorsed candidates is as follows:
Office: Candidate
Etc., etc.
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in Mohave County. For additional information please contact the Chamber at 928-855-4115.
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SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE REGARDING ENDORSEMENTS
(This press release may be used to announce Chamber endorsements)
News Release
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to endorse a slate of candidates for XXXXXXXXXX after completing a two-phase process of reviewing candidates seeking the Chamber’s support. Candidates were first asked to complete a written questionnaire of 12 questions, and then participated in personal interviews which were recorded and broadcasted on the Chamber’s website and in the local media during the months of XXXXXXX and NNNNNNNNNN. The lists of questions for the written and interview phases of the endorsement process are attached.
After thorough review by the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee, endorsement recommendations were made to the full board of Directors for consideration. Following discussion by the Board at its meeting VVVV CC, 2012, the following slate of candidates were endorsed:
Office: Name
Etc, etc.
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce is supportive of all citizens seeking elected office in an effort to perform their civic duty to the people of Lake Havasu City. The candidates listed above were chosen because their experience and viewpoints best match up with the mission of the Chamber organization and the views of its membership.
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SAMPLE RADIO SPOT REGARDING ENDORSEMENTS
(This sample spot may be used to announce Chamber endorsements)
30 second radio spot
Tuesday is Election Day and Lake Havasu City voters will be electing CCCCCCCCCCC to make important decisions affecting the future of our community.
The Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce represents more than 720 business members who employee 20,000 plus area residents and the Chamber encourages you to get out and vote for the following candidates:
Office: Candidate
Etc., etc.
The future of Lake Havasu City (or Mohave County, or State of Arizona, or LHUSD, etc.) is in your hands. Get out and vote on Tuesday, November X.
Paid for by the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce Business Supports Business PAC.