BACC release - The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) recently conducted endorsement reviews with the candidates for the State House seats, HD1 and HD9.  As a service to its members, the local business community, and the public at large, the BACC conducts a thorough assessment of each candidate from a business perspective. In this review, we look for a positive track record in four key areas to evaluate each candidate. Those criteria were:  Electability; Leadership; Support of BACC and our local business issues; and, Chamber and Community Involvement.  All candidates participated in our entire process, and through the review were divided into one of three categories.  Endorsed: Candidate satisfies all the preferred candidate criteria outlined in this policy and in addition, shares a strong fundamental understanding of our key business issues and concerns, and participates fully in the process.  Not Endorsed: Candidate does not satisfy enough of the criteria of understanding our key business issues to earn endorsement.  Invited but Did Not Respond: Candidate chose not to participate in our process to the full degree of the requirement.  Endorsements by the BACC must be approved by over 50% of voting directors. In some races, more than one candidate may be endorsed. In those cases, the BACC endorses both candidates running for the same office.  In August’s Voting session, the directors met the standard as they voted for the following recommendations to you for the 2026 General Election.  State House of Representatives HD1:  Representative Court Boice- Endorsed; Bret Cecil-Not Endorsed.  State House of Representatives HD9:  Claire Lynn-Endorsed; John Ezra Scheirman-Invited but did Not Respond.  Any questions or requests for further information should be addressed to Rosey Thomas, Executive Director for the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.