2020 has been a year unlike any other, including this year’s Presidential election. The November election set records for California with an 81% voter turnout statewide. Our region followed this trend with Sacramento County slightly above that average at 82.5% and regions like Placer County as high as 88% voter turnout.
Although the attention may have been on national politics, it is local and state race results that will have the most impact on our six-county Capital Region.
This included well-funded SCUSD school board races with more than $550,000 donated by California Teachers Association to their endorsed candidates — an election that may determine how the SCUSD board avoids the district’s pending insolvency.
It was an election that saw numerous changes on city councils, including a win for Bobbie Singh-Allen for Elk Grove, the first Punjabi-American to hold the elected office of mayor in the city.
As a business community, we are also hopeful in the election of Rich Desmond as Sacramento County Supervisor for District 3, replacing retiring Supervisor and 2020 Metro Chamber Sacramentan of the Year Susan Peters.
This past year has also been a civics lesson in the capabilities and important role of our local leaders to pivot and make critical decisions that can have immense impact on our business community. The Metro Chamber’s advocacy efforts led to the defeat of various rent control ordinances; secured more than $21 million in CARES funds for small business; ensured sectors of our economy such as construction not only remained open but grew during the pandemic; and continued the daily fight to reduce the unending barriers for our small businesses that have survived.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber Political Action Committee (Metro-PAC) is the Metro Chamber’s partner in endorsing and supporting the election of local and state candidates that understand the important role that business plays in our region and who are committed to policies that support strong business.
The Metro-PAC board, led by 2020 Chair Bruce Scheidt, understood the critical importance of this year’s election for the business community and successfully led efforts that raised more than $250,000 for local races and the election of 18 Metro-PAC endorsed candidates.
Congratulations to these candidates! We look forward to the work ahead as we focus on the inclusive economic recovery of our neighborhoods and businesses.
2020 November Election Metro-PAC Endorsed Candidates by County
Sacramento County
- Rich Desmond, Sacramento County Supervisor, District 3
- Christina Pritchett, Sacramento City Unified School District Board Member, Area 3
- Jamee Villa, Sacramento City Unified School District Board Member, Area 4
- Bobbie Singh-Allen, Mayor of Elk Grove
- Darren Suen, City of Elk Grove Council, District 1
- Kevin Spease, City of Elk Grove Council, District 3
- Rosario Rodriguez, City of Folsom Council, At-Large
- David Sander, City of Rancho Cordova Council, At-Large
- Donald Terry, City of Rancho Cordova Council, At-Large
Placer County
- Bruce Houdesheldt, City of Roseville Council, District 3
Yolo County
- Quirina Orozco, City of West Sacramento Council, At-Large
- Tom Stallard, City of Woodland Council, District 2
California State Assembly
- Megan Dahle, California State Assembly, District 1
- James Gallagher, California State Assembly, District 3
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, California State Assembly, District 4
- Kevin Kiley, California State Assembly, District 6
- Ken Cooley, California State Assembly, District 8
- Jim Cooper, California State Assembly, District 9
Learn more about the Metro-PAC, read our Business Values Statement or contribute at metrochamber.org/advocacy/metro-pac.