Malibu Chamber of Commerce Endorses Two Candidates on April Ballot

• This Is First City Council Race in Which the Group Is Openly ‘Political’

BY ANNE SOBLE

The board of directors of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, which represents the organization’s nearly 650 members, announced that it has endorsed Laura Rosenthal and Steve Scheinkman in the April Malibu City Council race.
Chamber president/CEO Rebekah Evans said this is the first time that “the Chamber took a stand on anything within the City of Malibu, such as candidate endorsements.”
Evans added, “The Chamber is standing up for a leadership role within the business community, [which is] so different than other communities.”
Chamber board of directors chair Scott Wagenseller said, “The Malibu Chamber board of directors decided that Laura Rosenthal and Steve Scheinkman possess a business thoughtfulness and skills to protect and promote the business community in Malibu. Both are team players who we feel could work together with the 650 members to bring about meaningful and effective city-chamber partnerships.”
The Chamber was formed in 1948. Though not formally active in the community incorporation efforts, many of its earlier board members opposed cityhood.
Wagenseller said the current board “decided to take a bold step to bring leadership to the city council that recognizes the importance of local business to the residents and the city.”
He added, “The Chamber must be the voice of reason and reality to make sure that businesses in Malibu, both large and small, are heard. With the economic challenges, we must support our local economy in all ways, and we must have ‘business-minded’ individuals on our city council.”
“Whether our candidates are elected or not, the Malibu Chamber of Commerce will be a vocal participant in community affairs, and we look forward to offering our resources to the Malibu community.” Wagenseller said.