Lisa Batto, ACE
President/CEO

Gearing Up to Take Action

Beginning this month we will be bringing our Candidate Endorsement Committee back into action. The Chamber completed the Five Year Vision and began endorsing candidates in 2002. We are the ‘voice of Napa business’, advocating the business community’s concerns and stressing changes in laws and policies that affect our members’ businesses. Our elected officials respect our concerns and listen to our needs. Our successes over the past eight years demonstrate how we have strengthened our relationships with our elected officials. We can continue to build a City Council, County Board and state legislative delegation that will take the time to call us before making a policy decision, and act as consensus builders when we need an effective and intelligent voice within the walls of government.

Our Candidate Endorsement Committee (CEC) is made up of 9 people. Four must be board members, three must be members of Legislative Action Committee and two are at large members. Each member is appointed to volunteer service by the Board of Directors. The Chamber President/CEO may participate in discussion by has no voting right. If you would like to read about the entire process just visit the Advocacy portion of our website at www.napachamber.com/candidate.html.

Our CEC has been appointed and will begin the tough job of determining the questions to be asked of the candidates. Every candidate that appears on the certified list will be invited to interview with our committee. We will be looking for the best candidate that will meet the needs of the business community. This year we will ask you, our members, to weigh in to our committee. We’d like to give you the opportunity to help inform our committee about each of the candidates, favorable or not.

The year is shaping up to be an interesting one for local government elections. Two critical seats are open in our Supervisory and City Council elections.

Our job is to select the best candidate that will be mindful our concerns, so you can make an informed decision at the ballot box.

Who’s Racing for a Seat in the June 2010 Election
District 1
Brad Wagenknecht
Dan Monez

District 3
Diane Dillon
Michael Haley
Jeff Parady

State Assembly District 7 - Primary
Michael Allen (D)
Michael Wilson(D)
Lee Pierce (D)
Bill Jose Uriarte (D)
Doris Gentry (R)
Kathryn Moore (L)

State Senate
Noreen Evans (D)
Joanne Bouldt Sanders (D)
David Rosas (D)

Timeline of Process
April 1 – official list of candidates is released
April 5 – 16 Interview candidates/make recommendation
April 19 – Special Board Meeting to hear recommendations
April 20 – Announce Endoresment
May 10 – Ballots mailed to residents
June 8 – Statewide Primary Election Day