Countywide : Chamber Endorses 3 Board Incumbents

The Greater Ventura Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday its endorsement of all three incumbents seeking reelection to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

The chamber, which is endorsing for the first time in supervisorial races, backed Supervisors Susan K. Lacey, Maggie Erickson Kildee and John K. Flynn. All 1,400 chamber members have businesses in the city of Ventura, which is represented by Lacey.

But Political Action Committee Chairman Guy Wysinger said the chamber also backed candidates in the other two districts because many chamber members live outside Ventura and supervisors’ actions affect the health of the business community countywide.

The Ventura chamber interviewed all 11 candidates in the supervisorial races, Wysinger said. It backed the three incumbents because they “support the free enterprise system, believe in fiscally responsible government” and try to represent the interests of “both the private and public sectors of the economy.”

The chamber endorsed Lacey even though she is challenged by Ventura businessman Dick Massa. Wysinger said Lacey received the endorsement because she “not only had a handle on the issues, she’s been fair with business in this city. We felt on balance that she’s a good representative of the business community.” Wysinger said the chamber will actively support the candidates it endorsed. “We will print our own brochures and posters and send out letters,” he said.