Charleston Metro Chamber Political Action Committee announces endorsed candidate for City of Charleston Mayor

CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee (CMCC PAC) announced August 18, their endorsement of Leon Stavrinakis as Mayor of the City of Charleston. The CMCC PAC vetted five of the seven candidates running for mayor and voted on Monday, August 17 to endorse Stavrinakis.

In order to be considered for the CMCC PAC endorsement, candidates were first asked to complete a questionnaire outlining their views on a number of key issues of importance to the Chamber. Questions included their view on completion of I-526, the extension of the Glenn McConnell parkway, Port development and the proposed passenger cruise terminal, among others. Five of the seven candidates completed the questionnaire and were then interviewed by a panel of Chamber members that included the CMCC PAC Board of Directors as well as representatives of the Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee and Charleston Young Professionals. Each candidate was asked the same set of questions and then rated using a scoring sheet.

The CMCC PAC Board and Chamber Board of Directors spent the past year discussing the qualities and attributes most important in the selection of the next Mayor of Charleston. Among those key qualities included the ability to partner with the business community on top metro issues, work closely with public officials at the local state and federal levels on advancing the region, lead in a crisis and bring together diverse groups to build support on issues.

“One of the most important aspects was to find a candidate with a true regional perspective and the ability to balance the future with the past,” said David Hand, CMCC PAC Chairman. “We looked for a candidate that had a proven record as a coalition builder and someone with strong existing relationships with local, state and federal officials, regardless of party. We believe that Leon Stavrinakis is the right candidate to serve as the next Mayor of Charleston.”

“Leon Stavrinakis has a strong record of being connected to and respected by other elected officials in our region, state and at the federal levels and has been a strong advocate of the business community for many years,” said Laura Varn, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Board Chair. “We are fortunate to have a number of excellent candidates running for this critical position. We thoroughly vetted each of the candidates through an extensive business focused questionnaire and corresponding interview, and Leon ranked highest in our process. We are excited to endorse Leon and are eager to work with him as he builds his new administration.”

The key abilities identified by the Chamber and CMCC PAC Board for the ideal candidate include:

• Regional Perspective: The mayor must be able to represent the region, look past City and county boundaries and have the ability to work with other leaders within the region and state.
• Balance Future and Past: The mayor must be able to balance Charleston’s rich history and culture with the continued growth and development in the region.
• Ability to Bring Others Together: Charleston is a diverse community. The mayor must be able to bring diverse groups of citizens together and build strong, diverse coalitions.
• Strong Leadership Skills: The mayor needs to be a CEO type of manager who has the ability to look at the macro level of government and not focus on the micro level. He/she must possess a dynamic personality who draws people together.
• Courage to Tackle Large Issues: Charleston is in a transformational state. The mayor must be able to understand and handle critical challenges such as infrastructure, growth management and sustainable growth.
• Great Communicator: The mayor must have the ability to simplify complex issues making them digestible to the general public, as well as, the ability to handle the spotlight on the state, national and international stages.
• Visionary Leader: He/she should be able to develop and implement a strong vision for the future of Charleston.
• Strong Business Advocate: As the CEO of the City of Charleston, he/she should have a thorough knowledge and abilities to manage the day-to-day operations of a large-scale business enterprise. He/she must also be a strong economic development advocate and position the City as a municipality that supports the development and growth of business and jobs.

For more information about the CMCC PAC, visit www.charlestonchamber.net/pac.

About the Chamber: With 1,600 member organizations representing 125,000 professionals, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce serves as the collective voice of the business community, and a catalyst for advancing the region’s economy and enhancing members’ success through Advocacy, Innovation, Talent and Business Advancement. Visit charlestonchamber.net
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