Chambers of commerce in LV set political agendas

The Asian Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas has developed a political action committee and will support candidates for local races.

The 360-member group is the third chamber operating in the Las Vegas area to form a PAC. The Asian Chamber joins the Las Vegas and Henderson chambers of commerce in establishing fund-raising mechanisms to further the goals of their respective organizations.

Peter Lok, coordinator of the Asian Chamber of Commerce-Political Action Committee, said there aren't any major issues facing his group, but officers wanted a system in place to make political contributions when they choose to support candidates.

"Thankfully, we don't have any catastrophes right now," said Lok, a doctor who specializes in acupuncture. "But the group wanted to be ready for the next election."

Lok said several members within the chamber have donated money to various campaigns on their own and wanted to coordinate their efforts for maximum political clout.

He said the PAC intends to support candidates in local races first, statewide races second and national races last.

The new PAC had its first fund-raising event in mid-August. Guests included elected officials from the state's congressional delegation, the Nevada Legislature, Clark County and the city councils of the valley's municipalities.

Lok said that while there are no burning issues for the chamber locally, some national issues -- hate-crime legislation and immigration -- have had local implications.

A recent shooting rampage in Southern California resulted in the death of a Filipino. Buford Furrow Jr., who surrendered in Las Vegas, is accused of killing U.S. postal worker Joseph Ileto.

Lok said the PAC's membership has discussed strengthening penalties for perpetrators of hate crimes as well as reforming immigration policies to make it easier for Asians to move to and work in the United States.

While the Asian Chamber has the area's newest PAC, the oldest belongs to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the seventh largest chamber in the nation with more than 6,000 members.

Senior Vice President Kara Kelley, who coordinates the Las Vegas Chamber's government affairs program, said BIZPAC distributed about $200,000 to candidates as part of its $250,000 lobbying budget in 1998. Kelley said the chamber plans to make the war chest even larger because of a significant issue in upcoming elections -- reapportionment.

"We'll be weighing in more heavily on these next elections because we'll be electing those who draw the lines for the new districts," Kelley said. "This will be very important for the next decade."

Kelley said the Las Vegas Chamber sees business taxation as a key issue in the coming months.

"We'll be fighting any attempt to create any additional revenue streams for the government," Kelley said. "Our key priority over the next three years will be to convince voters not to sign any new petitions seeking a business tax.

"As related to the teachers' union proposal (to fund education with a business tax), we'll support candidates who oppose a business tax and, if it comes to it, we'll fight against any proposals on the ballot in 2000 and 2002."

Kelley said the chamber sees itself not only as a leader of business but as a leader in the entire community and "we want to be part of whatever dialogue there is on the betterment of our community."

BIZPAC contributes money in all state campaigns, including every legislative district race in the state. Kelley said the PAC justifies becoming involved in rural districts because every lawmaker has a vote and those votes affect the city.

The PAC also involves itself in school board and State Board of Education elections, races for the Clark County Commission and the council and mayoral races in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson.

The 950-member Henderson Chamber of Commerce is the other chamber with a PAC.

Formed in 1998, the Henderson Chamber's IMPAC became involved in some state races in the last election. The PAC contributed to candidates for governor and lieutenant governor and in legislative races in districts including Henderson's city limits.

Alice Martz, executive director of the Henderson Chamber, said IMPAC is evolving as members feel out the organization's role in the process.

"We're really new to this," Martz said. "But we did it to increase our influence and the chamber's influence in the community."

Martz said the chamber asked members to contribute donations with their dues, resulting in a PAC fund of less than $10,000.

In addition to contributing to campaign funds, Martz said the chamber's legislative committee met every week the Legislature was in session and would call Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, to weigh in on bills.

Ron Meek, a provost at the Community College of Southern Nevada, coordinated the PAC's efforts as first vice president of the chamber. Martz said he and the committee will meet to discuss future issues.

Martz said the committee lobbied in favor of legislation requiring justices of the peace to have legal training, one of the first issues in which IMPAC made a difference, she said.

Three other chambers don't have political action committees, but have liaisons with lawmakers.

"We're always interested in issues that have potential impact on our membership," said Richard Conner, executive director and chief executive officer of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Conner said his two-person staff writes letters and makes personal contacts with lawmakers on behalf of the 450 members when the chamber's board of directors wants to be heard on a particular issue.

"We have not gone down the path of raising money and supporting candidates," Conner said. "Sometimes we'll issue a policy statement or poll the membership on particular issues and we maintain a working relationship with the city of North Las Vegas on local issues."

The Latin Chamber of Commerce doesn't endorse candidates, but it does have a governmental affairs committee that works with government leaders to solve problems identified by the Hispanic business community.

Executive Director Otto Merida said the two biggest issues facing the Latin Chamber are the high dropout rate among Hispanic high school students and the development of commerce in international markets.

Merida said there are more than 55,000 Hispanic students enrolled in local schools and the Clark County School District is being asked to provide additional resources to cut the dropout rate.

"Nevada already ranks 49th in the nation in terms of our dropout rate," Merida said. "This is our No. 1 issue."

The Latin Chamber also is working with the state Economic Development Commission to pursue greater trade possibilities for Nevada's Hispanic business community.

"We want to make Las Vegas the Miami of the West," Merida said. "We want to make Southern Nevada a gateway to the West and the Southwest."

Merida said the chamber is sponsoring a business exposition featuring representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada and the United State Sept. 9 and 10.

Merida said the 750-member chamber wants to establish Southern Nevada as a distribution headquarters for companies in foreign countries that want to establish a North American location. The chamber also wants to draw Hispanic convention business to Las Vegas.

The smallest chamber organization in the valley, the 100-member Urban Chamber of Commerce, has a charter that prohibits it from endorsing candidates. However, Executive Director Louie Overstreet said there are a number of issues that keep the organization politically active.

The Urban Chamber is associated with the black community and its top priority is pursuing the proposed regeneration of West Las Vegas. The chamber is seeking assistance from Gov. Kenny Guinn on the state level and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on the federal level to identify projects and financing that will help change the area's crime and poverty image.

Overstreet said the plan is expected to take six months to a year to develop and will address economic development projects, historic preservation issues, public infrastructure and recreation needs.

The Urban Chamber also wants to interview potential candidates for the city's Ward 5 council district. In addition, the chamber's board of directors is preparing to vote on whether to host an international gaming conference that would focus on urban gambling issues and casinos that cater to minorities.

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