Advocacy
As the voice of business, the Chamber organizes public forums, information sessions, and open discussions. We directly engage with elected officials and city staff, authors letters of support and offers public comment on issues that affect our city and our region. We do not engage in political fundraising, and we do not have, nor support a PAC. Any endorsements we may make do not include financial support.
Members are encouraged to bring issues and policy matters to the Business Issues and Public Policy (BIPP) Committee, including legislative actions and industry-related topics such as transportation, development, regulation, and business trends. The Committee makes recommendations to the Chamber Board of Directors for official adoption and informs and educates members on key issues. The Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month.
Advocacy positions will be based on the merits of the proposal and adherence to the Chamber's policy values and principles. They will not be based on the proponent’s membership status. Board positions generally require one month to pass the committee recommendation process, with the Chamber Board of Directors as the final decision-making body.
Political Campaigns and Endorsements
The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce is non-partisan and will support positions, measures and initiatives that further our mission, goals and objectives, and shares the Chamber's policy values and principles. We support local leadership who are eager to engage the Chamber of Commerce as a key partner in developing meaningful solutions.
For ballot measures and political candidates, the Chamber follows a formal, documented endorsement process. An endorsement by the Chamber of Commerce means the candidate may name the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce as an endorser in public statements and campaign materials; ballot measure or legislative group can name the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce as stating it is supporting the initiative or opposing it, depending on the outcome of the recommendation. Chamber endorsements do not include financial support.
The Chamber will announce its endorsements to Chamber membership and the general public through PR, media outreach, social media, and on its website. Any Chamber member, officer, director, staff, or committee member that wishes to publicly support a candidate can do so, but may only state their affiliation with the Chamber in their endorsement if the Chamber has already officially announced its endorsement of the candidate.
This policy is not to be construed as an effort to limit or discourage political activity of any member in any way, but only to limit the use of the Chamber of Commerce name and the name of any committee. Neither is the policy construed to mean that political candidates are prohibited from using the Chamber of Commerce name as a part of civic activities or organization memberships in campaign literature, advertising or editorial matter.