Chamber To Host Virtual Candidate Forums

The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and its Legislative Action Committee are devoted to advocating for local businesses and providing them with access to our elected officials. Starting this month, we will be providing candidate forums at our regular breakfast events at during other times leading up to the fall. This is an excellent way to give our local business community the opportunity to hear candidates for elected office discuss issues related to the economy, and to participate by having their questions heard and answered in a non–partisan setting. This way, our members can make informed choices at the polls. 

This month we will feature a forum between incumbent New York State Senator Pete Harckham and challenger Rob Astorino. Questions for the candidates will be accepted in advance and should be emailed to richk@dcrcoc.org. With the help of the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee, the questions to be answered by the candidates will be chosen.

Throughout September and October, we will hold additional forums for candidates running for other offices. We are currently working to secure dates for candidates running for congressional, state senate, and state assembly positions.

The mission of the Legislative Action Committee is to work with elected officials to promote effective and efficient government. To join together as a collective—giving a larger voice to the business community—ultimately improves both the business and economic environment.
 
For members of the Chamber, local elected officials are just as important as national ones, if not more so. It’s an important facet of Thinking Local First. Local municipal governments and regional district leaders are at the forefront when determining the path of our Hudson Valley economy and the ultimate health of our business community moving forward.  That’s too important to ignore and deserves our full attention.
 
We’ll do our part by providing the forums and access, and when Election Day rolls around, it will be your turn to do yours. Be informed and educated, our local business community’s economic future depends on it.