Endorsements& PAC Survey

2018

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The Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) asked members to complete a survey in March 2018 to discover which chambers have Political Action Committees (PACs) and make endorsements. The invitation was sent by email to the main contact at each chamber that are members of W.A.C.E.

This year’s survey garnered responses from 217 different chambers. Combined with data collected from previous years, W.A.C.E. has data from 280 different chambers across the western United States.

Thank you to all those that participated in this year’s survey. We hope you find the following survey results valuable.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Chamber budget

Number of Staff

Number of memberS

SurVeY demograPhICS

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QUESTION: REgaRdINg ENdORSINg caNdIdaTES fOR pUblIc OffIcE, whIch Of ThE fOllOwINg applIES TO yOU?

According to the 2018 survey, 34% of chambers that participated in the survey make endorsements, whether by their Board of Directors or through their Political Action Committee – 66% of chambers do not make endorsements.

Inconsistency of participating chambers makes it difficult to show trends on endorsements.

QUESTION:whaT TypE Of caNdIdaTES dOES yOUR chambER ENdORSE?

ENDORSEMENTS + CANDIDATES

LeSS thaN 250 memberS

501-750 memberS

> 1,000 memberS

751-999 memberS

250-500 memberS

bY Chamber SIZe

oVeraLL reSuLtS

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QUESTION:DOES YOUR CHAMBER HAVE A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC)?

Overall, 70% of W.A.C.E. Chambers who participated in the survey DO NOT have a Political Action Committee (PAC).

When broken down by chamber size, the results show that PACs become more prevalent in chambers with more than 250 members. In chambers with more than 1,000 members 76% of participants reported having a PAC.

reSuLtS bY Chamber SIZe

< 250 memberS

751-999 memberS

> 1,000 memberS

250-500 memberS

501-750 memberS

POLICTAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC)

QUESTION:whaT TypE Of pac dOES yOUR chambER haVE?

The majority of participating chambers that have a PAC said that they operate candidates and issues PACs. Overall, 57% do both, 31% are candidates PACs, and 12% are Issues PACs.

QUESTION:hOw haS haVINg a pac OR ENdORSINg caNdIdaTES/ISSUES ImpacTEd yOUR mEmbERShIp NUmbERS?

Chambers that reported they operate a PAC overwhelmingly responded that there was “No Obvious Impact” on their membership numbers. Another 27% reported having an increase in membership. Only 5% noticed a decrease in membership numbers.

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reSuLtS bY Chamber SIZe

751-999 memberS

> 1,000 memberS

250-500 memberS

501-750 memberS

PAC TYPE + IMPACT ON MEMBERSHIP

5

751-999 memberS

> 1,000 memberS

501-750 memberS

250-500 memberS

QUESTION:hOw mUch mONEy dOES yOUR pac TypIcally RaISE aNNUally?

According to participating chambers with a PAC, most chambers are generating between $5,000 and $15,000 annually.

In chambers under 500 members, 81% generate less than $15,000 annually with the other 18% bringing in between $15,001 and $25,000.

QUESTION:hOw haS haVINg a pac OR ENdORSINg caNdIdaTES/ISSUES ImpacTEd yOUR RElaTIONShIp wITh ThE cITy OR OThER gOVERNmENT OffIcIalS?

reSuLtS bY Chamber SIZe

PAC FUNDS RAISED + CITY RELATIONS

QUESTION:dO chambERS wITh gOVERNmENT cONTRacTS makE ENdORSEmENTS aNd haVE pacS?

Of all the chambers that responded that they have a contract with their local government, W.A.C.E. filtered that information to see how they engage in advocacy.

According to the survey, 30% of chambers with a contract make endorsements – 15% by the board and 15% by their PAC.

Among the same chambers, 26% have a PAC.

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Chambers with Contracts that make endorsements

Chambers with Contracts that have a PaC

ENDORSEMENTS + CONTRACTS

QUESTION:whaT pERcENTagE Of yOUR chambER’S TOTal INcOmE cOmES fROm yOUR cONTRacT fOR SERVIcES fROm yOUR lOcal gOVERNmENT?

reSuLtS bY Chamber SIZe< 250 memberS 751-999 memberS > 1,000 memberS250-500 memberS 501-750 memberS

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QUESTION:dOES yOUR chambER SpONSOR aNy kINd Of “caNdIdaTE dEVElOpmENT” pROgRam? Overall, 16% of chambers participating in this survey offer a candidate development program in their community. When looking at the results by the size of the chamber, the percentage of chambers that have a candidate development program increases with the size of the chamber.

QUESTION:IS yOUR chambER paRT Of a lEgISlaTIVE cOalITION OR allIaNcE wITh OThER lOcal chambERS/ORgaNIzaTIONS? Though this question is unrelated to Political Action Committees, W.A.C.E. was interested to know how many chambers have formed legislative alliances with surrounding chambers or organizations. Out of 217 chambers, 67% do have some sort of alliance and another 6% plan to have one in the near future.

reSuLtS bY Chamber SIZe< 250 memberS 751-999 memberS > 1,000 memberS250-500 memberS 501-750 memberS

CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT + ALLIANCES

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The following is a comprehensive listing of participating W.A.C.E. chambers that stated that they either make endorsements or have a Political Action Committee either in this year’s survey or in the previous two years the survey has been administered. The listing is in alphabetical order by city, seperated by state. All information is gathered from the 2018 survey unless marked with an asterisk for 2017 or double asterisks for prior surveys. If you feel your chamber is missing from this list, please email russell.lahodny@calchamber.com.

ARIZONACHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Arizona (State Chamber)** Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

Chandler Chamber Board No PAC

Greater Flagstaff* PAC Candidates/Issues $15,001 to 25,000

Gilbert* Chamber Board Candidates PAC Less than $5,000

Glendale Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Lake Havasu Area* Chamber Board Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

Mesa Chamber Board No PAC

Greater Phoenix PAC Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

Prescott** Chamber Board No PAC

Sierra Vista Area** Chamber Board Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Tempe Chamber Board No PAC

Tucson Metro Chamber Board Candidates PAC $5,001 to 15,000

* 2017 Data / ** Prior Data

CALIFORNIACHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISEDAnaheim PAC Candidates/Issues More than $100,000

Apple Valley** Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Greater Bakersfield PAC Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

Beverly Hills PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Big Bear** PAC Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

Brea Chamber Board No PAC

Brisbane** Chamber Board No PAC

Camarillo Chamber Board No PAC

Carlsbad* Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Ceres** Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Chico** Do Not Endorse Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

ENDORSEMENTS/PACS RESOURCE LIST

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CALIFORNIACHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISEDCitrus Heights PAC Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

Clovis* PAC Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

Culver City Chamber Board Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

Cupertino Chamber Board Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

Downey PAC No PAC

El Dorado County PAC Candidates/Issues $25,001 to 50,000

El Dorado Hills PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Elk Grove PAC Candidates PAC Less than $5,000

Escondido PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Greater Eureka* Chamber Board No PAC

Fairfield-Suisun PAC Candidates PAC $5,001 to 15,000

Fremont PAC Candidates PAC Less than $5,000

Fresno PAC Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

Gilroy PAC Candidates PAC $5,001 to 15,000

Goleta Valley Chamber Board Candidates PAC $15,001 to 25,000

Hayward PAC Candidates/Issues $25,001 to 50,000

Hispanic Chamber of Silicon Valley* Chamber Board No PAC

Hollywood PAC Candidates PAC $5,001 to 15,000

Huntington Beach PAC Candidates PAC More than $100,000

Greater Irvine** PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Lake County** Chamber Board No PAC

Lake Elsinore Valley* Do Not Endorse Issues PAC $5,001 to 15,000

Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber Board Candidates PAC $15,001 to 25,000

Lakeside** Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

LAX Coastal Area Chamber Board No PAC

Lincoln Area** PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Lodi District PAC Candidates/Issues Less than $5,000

Lompoc Valley** Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Long Beach Area PAC Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

Los Angeles Area PAC Candidates/Issues More than $100,000

Manhattan Beach** Chamber Board No PAC

Modesto** PAC Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

Monterey Peninsula Chamber Board No PAC

* 2017 Data / ** Prior Data

10* 2017 Data / ** Prior Data

CALIFORNIACHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISEDMountain View** Chamber Board No PAC

Newark Chamber Board No PAC

North Orange County PAC Candidates/Issues

Oakdale** Chamber Board No PAC

Oceanside* Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Oxnard PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Pajaro Valley** Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Pleasanton PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Rancho Cordova Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Redding Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $15,001 to 25,000

Redlands Chamber Board No PAC

Redondo Beach PAC Candidates/Issues $25,001 to 50,000

Ripon** Chamber Board No PAC

Greater Riverside PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Roseville Area PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Sacramento Metro* PAC Candidates/Issues $25,001 to 50,000

Salinas Valley Chamber Board No PAC

San Clemente* PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

San Diego East County Chamber Board No PAC

San Diego Regional* Chamber Board Candidates/Issues More than $100,000

San Francisco* Do Not Endorse Issues PAC $50,001 to 100,000

San Leandro* PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

San Rafael Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Santa Barbara Region Chamber Board No PAC

Santa Clara PAC Candidates PAC $15,001 to 25,000

Santa Rosa Metro Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

The Silicon Valley Organization PAC Candidates/Issues More than $100,000

Torrance Area PAC Candidates PAC $5,001 to 15,000

Turlock** PAC Candidates PAC $5,001 to 15,000

Vacaville Chamber Board Candidates PAC $5,001 to 15,000

Vallejo PAC Candidates PAC Less than $5,000

Ventura PAC Candidates/Issues $25,001 to 50,000

Walnut Creek Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

11* 2017 Data / ** Prior Data

COLORADOCHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Berthoud Area* Chamber Board No PAC

Boulder** Chamber Board No PAC

Durango** Do Not Endorse Issues PAC Less than $5,000

Evergreen Area** Chamber Board No PAC

Fort Collins Area Chamber Board No PAC

Grand Junction Area Chamber Board No PAC

Loveland** Do Not Endorse Issues PAC $50,001 to 100,000

The West** Chamber Board No PAC

Greater Woodland Park Chamber Board No PAC

KANSASCHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Wichita Regional PAC Candidates PAC $25,001 to 50,000

MONTANACHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISEDBillings Chamber Board No PAC

Montana (State Chamber) Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

NEVADACHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Henderson* PAC Candidates PAC $25,001 to 50,000

Las Vegas Metro* PAC Candidates/Issues More than $100,000

Reno + Sparks Chamber Board No PAC

OKLAHOMACHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Edmond Area* Chamber Board No PAC

Tulsa Regional PAC Candidates PAC $25,001 to 50,000

12* 2017 Data / ** Prior Data

OREGONCHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISEDAlbany Area PAC Candidates/Issues $5,001 to 15,000

Bay Area Chamber Board No PAC

Beaverton Area PAC Candidates/Issues $25,001 to 50,000

Bend PAC Candidates PAC $50,001 to 100,000

Eugene Area** Chamber Board No PAC

Gresham Area Chamber Board No PAC

Hillsboro PAC Candidates PAC $15,001 to 25,000

Medford/Jackson County PAC Candidates/Issues $50,001 to 100,000

North Clackamas PAC Candidates/Issues

Salem Area Chamber Board Candidates/Issues $25,001 to 50,000

Tualatin Chamber Board No PAC

TEXASCHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Kyle Area PAC Candidates PAC Less than $5,000

Longview* Do Not Endorse Issues PAC $15,001 to 25,000

Lubbock* Do Not Endorse Issues PAC $25,001 to 50,000

WASHINGTONCHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Auburn Area** Chamber Board No PAC

Bellevue** PAC Candidates PAC $15,001 to 25,000

Fife Milton Edgewood** Chamber Board No PAC

Tacoma-Pierce County PAC Candidates PAC More than $100,000

WYOMINGCHAMBER ENDORSEMENTS BY TYPE OF PAC MONEY RAISED

Rock Springs* PAC Issues PAC $5,001 to 15,000