Well it’s that time again… the start of another political cycle. Campaigns have kicked off and soon candidate signs will pop up in front yards like mushrooms after a spring rain. Although not a presidential election year, we face mid-term elections for many state assembly and senate races and of course initiatives, including one or more Water Bond measures. The ACEC-CA PAC is evaluating candidates for state-wide office to make decisions regarding support of candidate that support policies and legislation favorable to our industry. ACEC-CA’s Legislative Review Committee is already reviewing the nearly 100 bills moving through the legislature in order to establish a position on each bill and to shape, support, or oppose bills in the interest of member firms with regards to business and technical issues.

It’s hard not to be jaded about politics and not care when we read every day about political scandals, and we perceive that much of the political process is an intractable quagmire. As a newcomer to the state, I view California politics almost as if it was a play on stage, and I am in the audience scratching my head and trying to understand the characters and plot. I attended two campaign kickoff events this year to better understand the process – the “sausage factory” of politics in California. Although I have not yet contributed to the state PAC, I look forward to attending the next state PAC committee meeting and regularly contribute to ACEC’s national PAC.

Your support of the national PAC is critical. The national PAC supports candidates for the U.S. Congress, and ACEC and member firms are prohibited from contributing to Federal elections. It falls to individuals to provide this much needed support. Support for the national PAC by ACEC-CA member representatives commonly falls far below its goal and lags behind most other states as percent of goal met (see the image below). If you have not been supporting the national PAC, I urge you to do so. Much of the money comes back to the state as support for congressional incumbents or challengers from California. Last year, the national PAC provided financial support to 14 from California and hosted or supported four fundraising events. I urge you to get involved in the politics of business and the business of politics.

The ACEC-CA conference is next week in La Quinta. I hope to see you there.