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January 2006

Chambers walk a fine line: Business groups seek greater clout, but must remain local
 

Through much of 2003 and 2004, chambers of commerce in Lake Elsinore, Murrieta and Temecula had "legislative action" committees that met occasionally, though chamber executives acknowledge that they didn't take much action.

So the three chambers teamed up to create a joint advocacy organization, the Southwest California Legislative Council, in January 2005. They staffed it with a part-time political consultant, who set up an interactive Web site that helps member businesses contact legislators. The consultant, a former chief lobbyist for the California State University students' association named Shaun Lumachi, meets monthly with the group's 15-member board...

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