The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently voted to endorse candidates in the Nov. 3 general election.
The chamber invited all candidates running for the positions to participate in their 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.
“Our Government Affairs focus is on relationship building with the candidates, ensuring they understand our key business issues, and asking for them to include us in their decision making processes,” said Nancy E. Wyatt, president and CEO of the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce. “This approach leads to decisions that are more balanced and help to improve the economic vitality of our business community.”
The board voted to approve the following endorsements:
Endorsed Highly Qualified
Anne Baunach, Auburn School Board, Position 4
Courtney Gregoire, Port of Seattle, Position 2
Leanne Guier, City of Pacific Mayor
Lloyd Hara, King County Assessor
John Holman, City of Auburn, Council Position 5
Don Johnson, Port of Tacoma, Position 3
Bill Peloza, City of Auburn, Council Position 3
Clare Petrich, Port of Tacoma, Position 5
Don Thomson, City of Pacific, Council Position 6
Ray Vefik, Auburn School Board, Position 1
Endorsed Qualified
Bob Baggett, City of Auburn, Council Position 7
Fred Felleman, Port of Seattle, Position 5
Teri Hickel, 30th Legislative District, Position 2
Endorsed
Troy Linnell, City of Algona, Council Position 3
Marion Yoshino, Port of Seattle, Position 5
Not Endorsed
No one received this ranking
Candidates invited to participate but chose not to:
Carol Gregory, 30th Legislative District, Position 2
John Wilson, King County Assessor
Good Space Guy, Port of Seattle, Position 2
Bruce Cook, Port of Tacoma, Position 3
Dick Walters, Port of Tacoma, Position 5
Dave Hill, City of Algona, Mayor (running unopposed)
Bill Thomas, City of Algona, Council Position 1 (running unopposed)
Ed Britz, City of Algona, Council Position 3
Mike Dawkins, City of Algona, Council Position 5 (running unopposed)
Largo Wales, City of Auburn, Council Position 1 (running unopposed)
Gary Nitschke, City of Pacific Mayor
Katie Garberding, City of Pacific, Council Position 1 (running unopposed)
Brice Erickson, City of Pacific, Council Position 3
Clinton Steiger, City of Pacific, Council Position 3
David Storaasli, City of Pacific, Council Position 6
Robyn Mulenga, Auburn School Board, Position 2 (running unopposed)
Ryan Van Quill, Auburn School Board, Position 5 (running unopposed)
About the endorsement process
The task force uses the following criteria to determine its endorsement recommendation to the board of directors:
Candidate recognizes the Auburn area business community as a meaningful constituent.
Candidate includes the business community in their decision making process, i.e. contacting, engaging, listening, and trying to find positive balanced solutions.
Candidate uses a fair and balanced approach in finding solutions for all parties involved.
Candidate’s connection with the Auburn area business community’s priorities on key business issues.
The task force uses four ranking levels as endorsement possibilities:
Not Endorsed: Candidate does not satisfy enough of the criteria to earn an endorsement.
Endorsed: Candidate meets minimum criteria, needs substantial exposure and experience in understanding our key business issues.
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.
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.
