The November 2020 Election is upon us. With vote by mail ballots hitting our mailboxes, and early-voting already here – the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce wants to remind you to make sure your voice is heard. You can find out where to vote early at: https://www.naperville.il.us/government/voting-and-voter-registration/
The NACC aims to be Your Resource and believes all of the upcoming races on the ballot are important. Our newly created Candidate Review Committee (CRC) aims to deliver on this promise and did candidate interviews for six local races, resulting in six candidate endorsements. You can read more about our CRC Committee and the NACC endorsed candidates for the upcoming election at: https://www.naperville.net/your-advocate/candidate-review-committee/
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce New Candidate Review Committee Announces Endorsements for November Election
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce announced their new committee for political endorsements, the Candidate Review Committee (CRC). The CRC is co-chaired by Kevin Gensler, Partner at Dommermuth Cobine West Gensler Philipchuck & Corrigan, Ltd. and Christina Caton-Kitchel Partner and Senior Vice President of Retail at Caton Commerical Real Estate.
“We are here to provide information for our Members on candidates that we know support our business community, are active in our community and qualified,” said Christina Caton Kitchel, Co-Chair of the Candidate Review Committee. “The discourse through this process provided some great insight into all the candidates and we truly appreciate their willingness to share their viewpoints.”
The newly formed CRC is announcing candidate endorsements for the following races:
- Illinois House 41 | Grant Wehrli (R)
- Illinois House 42 | Ken Mejia-Beal (D)
- Illinois House 81 | Laura Hois (R)
- Illinois House 84 | Stephanie Kifowit (D)
- DuPage County Board District 5 | Kevin Coyne (R)
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | Mary Lou Wehrli (R)
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is working hard to live their new Impact Statement, “Moving Business Forward towards an engaged, thriving community by being Your Advocate and Your Resource for Our Community.”
For more information on the candidates and why they received the endorsement visit: https://www.naperville.net/your-advocate/candidate-review-committee/
“The CRC is a committee of NACC Members created to evaluate candidates from the perspective of the business community intended to be a resource on local elections for both Chamber Members and the community, “said Kevin Gensler, Co-Chair of the Candidate Review Committee. “The committee consists of a diverse cross-section of business interests. A supermajority vote is required to obtain the CRC’s endorsement.”
According to the NACC, Director of Government Affairs, Reba Osborne – every candidate in the races we identified participated in our interviews.
“Our diverse group of CRC members asked questions about issues most important to the business community and searched to gain valuable insights from all candidates in a respectful environment. We commend each candidate for investing their time to interview with us. Regardless of the outcome of the election, it is our hope that we will be able to continue on-going dialogue with each elected official on issues most pressing to the business community.”
2020 Candidate Review Committee Members
- Amanda Kunzer: Good Therapy Counseling, NACC Women in Business Chair
- Emily Ory: Corporate Concepts, Immediate Past Chairman NACC Board of Directors
- John Knobloch: Knobloch Law Firm
- John Koranda: Naperville Bank and Trust
- Kris Hartner: Naperville Running Company
- Mari Rodriguez: DynaCom Management
- Meena Banasiak: PHOENIX Packaging
- Reba Osborne: NACC Director of Government Affairs
- Ryan McIntyre: Plaidypus Custom Software, NACC Business Works Chair
- Sean LaFortune: Wipfli
- Non-Voting Observer: Kaylin Risvold: NACC President & CEO
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce has also been vocal in their opposition to the Graduated Income Tax amendment. For more information on how you can get involved with the Business Works Legislative Committee at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce visit: https://www.naperville.net/your-advocate/business-works/.
If you are a seeking election in the Naperville-area in April 2021, contact Reba Osborne, Director of Government Affairs, rosborne@naperville.net.