Page 5 - OhioRA 2012SpringFlipBook

www.ohiorestaurant.org 3 Spring 2012 Issue

Under the Dome: A Legislative Update for ORA

As I hope you know, in 2010 the Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) endorsed political candidates for the frst time in our history. Based upon the interest and response from the candidates themselves, the ORA knows that our trade association’s endorsement is important to Ohio’s lawmakers.

The ORA’s Board of Directors recognizes the need to take a proactive approach to public policy advocacy. One of the ways the ORA fghts for your interests is through the Ohio Restaurant PAC by fnancially supporting candidates who, in general, value the free enterprise system and the restaurant industry, in particular. However, money for campaign expenses is not the only way we can help candidates, especially

for our industry, which has such a positive public perception. This perception and the strength of Ohio’s restaurant industry translate to candidates openly seeking the ORA’s political endorsement.

The ORA Political Endorsement Policy is displayed below as a reference. Immediately following the Mar. 6 primary, the ORA mailed questionnaires to the candidates. The PAC Committee will review their responses and determine its recommendations to the Board of Directors, which meets on Jun. 10. Once the board has determined which candidates to endorse, the results will be provided with a letter to the endorsed candidates, e-mailed to ORA members and posted on the ORA’s website.

The Board of Directors ultimately will make the decisions about individual candidates to endorse. At the same time, however, the board defnitely values your opinion. I strongly encourage you to share your input anytime before the Jun. 10 board meeting.

If you have any questions about the ORA’s endorsement procedures, don’t hesitate to contact me at either (614) 246-0130 or rmason@ohiorestaurant.org.

By Richard Mason,

Director of Government Affairs, Ohio Restaurant Association

Who Will the ORA Endorse for the November General Election?

The ORA seeks your input

The Board of Directors of the Ohio Restaurant Association may consider making political endorsements for:

A. Members of the Ohio General Assembly B. Statewide Elected Offcials 1. Governor 2. Lt. Governor 3. Secretary of State 4. Auditor 5. Attorney General 6. Treasurer

7. Justices of the Supreme Court

C. Ohio Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate D. Ballot Issues

Nothing in this policy shall require that the Association make an endorsement. The Board may choose to make endorsements in contested primaries at the spring meeting immediately preceding

the election. General election endorsements will typically be made at the summer meeting.

Where appropriate, candidates will be asked to complete a questionnaire to help Board members assess their qualifcations.

If the Board makes an endorsement in a candidate or issue election, it signifes that the Ohio Restaurant Association believes the candidate is qualifed, or the issue is worthy, and deserves serious and favorable consideration by the members of the Association.

An endorsement in no way implies that the Association’s political action committee, its offcers or its members will fnancially support the candidate or issue campaign.

The Association may choose to announce its endorsements in the most appropriate manner and at a time of its own choosing.

* Adopted: Dec. 2, 2009

The Ohio Restaurant Association’s Political Endorsement Policy