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The Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for the November elections in a big way, having formed a political action committee, known as SUNPAC, to endorse candidates, issues and measures on the ballot.
Before the committee was formed, the Chamber's policy only allowed it to support measures, not candidates. But now, through the political action committee, the Chamber can endorse candidates and measures financially as well.
The committee will work as a separate body from the Chamber, and the committee's newly elected board of trustees will decide which city council candidates to endorse.
As for measures, the Chamber board will continue to decide which issues to support.
The committee is raising funds that are separate from the Chamber's own funds to financially support candidates and measures, according to Suzi Blackman, president/CEO of the Chamber.
City council candidates must file paperwork by Aug. 8. The Chamber will then interview the candidates and make their endorsements.
"Our business community is excited that we're doing this," said Blackman. "The business community needs to be a little more visible and vocal about the political landscape here in Sunnyvale."
SUNPAC is modeled after the San Jose Chamber's and the Tri-County Association's political action committees.
Currently the committee will focus on the local political scene with the city and the county. "Down the road we will tackle the state. For now, we're just concentrating on this area," said Blackman.
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