The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Announces Endorsements for the 2020 City of Oceanside Elections The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce recently announced its endorsements for the 2020 City of Oceanside Elections. The Chamber Board of Directors voted to support Ryan Keim for District 3 and Peter Weiss for District 4. Both candidates currently serve in appointed roles on the City Council, with Weiss serving as Mayor and Keim in an at-large Council seat. While the Chamber has been very vocal on local business issues for many years, this marks the first time in recent history that the organization has participated in candidate endorsements. Chamber CEO Scott Ashton explains why the Chamber decided to become engaged in the local political process, “The mission of the Oceanside Chamber is to ‘stimulate economic prosperity and foster a vibrant community’. For this to happen, it is critical that our elected leaders have a strong understanding of the importance of creating a business-friendly environment. The Chamber is viewed as an important thought leader on business issues in our community and therefore our input into the election process is critical”. As a 501(c)(6) the Chamber can endorse candidates, with or without a Political Action Committee. The Chamber’s Advance Oceanside PAC is the mechanism that allows the organization to back up its endorsements with financial support.
“The Chamber is viewed as an important thought leader on business issues in our community and therefore our input into the election process is critical.” The endorsements by the Chamber Board followed several months of work by the Advance Oceanside Political Action Committee. Much of 2019 was spent developing policies and procedures and seeking Chamber member input on what issues were most important to them. Chamber Board Chair and PAC member, Debbie Allen 20 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal
Ryan Keim for District 3
Peter Weiss for District 4
commented on the importance of the work that has been undertaken. “The prosperity of the City of Oceanside is critical and the Advance Oceanside PAC and the Chamber have worked very hard the past couple of years to be able to put into place policies and procedures, to interview and to ultimately endorse business friendly candidates. I am so proud of all the hard work that these men and women have accomplished. 2020 is the first year in many to come, to support those wanting to continue to have a healthy economic environment”. The Advance Oceanside PAC will now focus its efforts on fundraising and helping its candidates secure victories in the two district seats. Chamber PAC members noted that Keim has been diligent to keep open lines of communications with the business community, regularly reaching out to Chamber staff and leaders. He has participated regularly in Chamber events and roundtables and stays in close communication with business leaders. He has advocated for a streamlined permit and approval process for development, increased height allowances and density downtown, and a new program that makes it easier and more affordable for residents to build accessory-dwelling units. Keim has a deep understanding of the challenges that business owners are facing with the criminal behavior Fall 2020 | www.oceansidechamber.com
