Publisher’s note: The following letter was sent to Lake Tahoe News by the writer.

Dear Rabbi [Evon] Yakur:

Thank you for the opportunity to seek the [Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s] endorsement, however, I must decline seeking of same at this time. Nor will I be providing my personal, private information to your organization for a “background check”. This is information that even the county elections department does NOT ask for. Neither is it required on the many state election forms that I have filled out. Additionally, I do not believe as an Interim Exec.,  Mr. [Steve] Teshara is bonded in the event my information is inadvertently released. Would the chamber’s own experts advise giving this information to an out of state organization headed by a temporary employee?

I am a former executive vice president, economic development director of the Greater Tulare Chamber of Commerce, so I am a huge supporter of chambers of commerce, but I find that a candidate seeking election in the city of South Lake Tahoe (California) who seeks endorsement from a Nevada-based organization is asking for trouble. I also have concerns with how closely the chamber’s PAC is to its board of directors. There is simply not the requisite distance between those soliciting candidates and those endorsing candidates. I was involved in many conversations with WACE and the CalChamber in the early ’90s, where it became very clear to those involved that a chamber of Commerce that has a PAC and endorses candidates for local (non-partisan) elections is asking for trouble. While it is OK and encouraged for chambers to take positions on ballot measures and state propositions, the personalities involved in small town elections can be detrimental to a chamber and its future. And while it is your choice to seek this path, I must seek the path I believe to be right.

Of your 600-plus members, I am sure that many are in California. In light of this, I am happy to answer your questionnaire. But please remove me from the list of City Council candidates seeking endorsement.

I will submit the completed questionnaire in the time frame you requested  and am happy to meet with your CEO Roundtable on Sept. 2. Please let me know when you require me to be at Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel.

Respectfully,

Tamara Wallace