The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on Tuesday voted to endorse candidates in the 30th, 31st and 47th Legislative Districts, not just on party or position, but on individual candidate qualifications.
The chamber invited all 18 candidates running for the positions to participate in its interview process. Each candidate who participated completed a pre-interview questionnaire and scheduled a private interview with the chamber’s Government Affairs Candidate Interview Task Force.
The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to approve the following endorsements:
Endorsed Highly Qualified
• Pam Roach – 31st Legislative District, Senate
• Christopher Hurst – 31st Legislative District, House Position 2
• Joe Fain – 47th Legislative District, Senate
• Pat Sullivan – 47th Legislative District, House Position 2
Endorsed Qualified
• Claudia Kauffman – 47th Legislative District, Senate
• Shawn Sullivan – 30th Legislative District, House Position 1
• Katrina Asay – 30th Legislative District, House Position 2
• Cathy Dahlquist – 31st Legislative District, House Position 1
• Mark Hargrove – 47th Legislative District, House Position 1
• Rodrigo Yanez – 47th Legislative District, House Position 2
Not Endorsed
None
Candidates invited to participate but chose not to:
• Tracey Eide – 30th Legislative District, Senate
• Tony Moore – 30th Legislative District, Senate
• Mark Miloscia – 30th Legislative District, House Position 1
• Carol Gregory – 30th Legislative District, House Position 2
• Matt Richardson – 31st Legislative District, Senate
• Shawn Bunney – 31st Legislative District, House Position 1
• Patrick Reed – 31st Legislative District, House Position 2
• Geoff Simpson – 47th Legislative District, House Position 1
“Our Government Affairs focus is non-partisan. We center on relationship building with the candidates from both parties ensuring they understand our key business issues, and asking for them to include us in their decision making processes,” said Terry Davis, Chairman of the Board, for the Auburn Area Chamber. “This approach leads to decisions that are more balanced and help to improve the economic vitality of our business community.”
====
About the endorsement process
The task force uses the following criteria to determine its endorsement recommendation to the board of directors:
1. Candidate recognizes the Auburn Area business community as a meaningful constituent in their district.
2. Candidate includes the business community in their decision making process, i.e. contacting, engaging, listening, and trying to find positive balanced solutions.
3. Candidate uses a fair and balanced approach in finding solutions for all parties involved.
4. Candidate’s connection with the Auburn Area business community’s priorities on key business issues.
The task force uses three ranking levels as endorsement possibilities:
1. Not Endorsed: Candidate does not satisfy enough of the criteria to earn an endorsement.
2. Endorsed Qualified: Candidate satisfies all the criteria to earn an endorsement, but their knowledge of all the key business issues needs our assistance to improve.
3. Endorsed Highly Qualified: Candidate satisfies all the criteria to earn an endorsement and in addition truly holds a very strong understanding of the key business issues.
====
About the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce
Established in 1925, the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce has been serving the communities of Auburn, Algona, Pacific and unincorporated south King and north Pierce Counties for 85 years.
The chamber is a private, not-for-profit, member-supported, volunteer-led organization. Its primary purpose is to focus and direct the resources of the business community to maintain and expand commerce in our region.
The chamber has 490-plus business partners and is governed by a 21-member board of directors. The professional staff consists of five full-time employees and two contractors who carry out the program of work as established by the board.
