Vote: It’s your business
This is an article I wrote for the Nashville Chamber‘s Small Business Wire newsletter, May 26th 2011.
Every day, elected officials make decisions that impact business owners. They must understand the importance of their decisions upon those of us who contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of our communities and our employees. That is why business leaders must participate in the election process.
This summer, Nashvillians will go to the polls to vote for mayor, vice mayor, five councilmembers-at-large and 35 individual district councilmembers. As our city comes out of the recession, these are the leaders who will govern us in the next economy and will create the environment in which entrepreneurial businesses will operate. On Wednesday, June 15, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a forum for members to meet the candidates running in this election.
Why is it important that business owners get involved in the election process? The two main reasons are:
1) When business leaders build relationships with their elected officials, it results in an environment for open dialogue about the issues that affect the business community. This is imperative as legislation is being considered.
2) Government policies and legislative decisions make a difference in our business and personal lives. As our elected officials take actions such as adopting a new budget or ruling on zoning issues, this impacts local business. For example, Metro Council is currently debating legislation about the redefinition of home-based business regulations and the redevelopment of Nashville’s main corridors and base zoning like the Specific Plan District Zoning in East Nashville. If any of these key issues end up affecting your business, you will need to know the issue and whom to contact.
Other items that will likely be considered by this new term of Metro officials include infill around the new Music City Center, a possible new baseball stadium, the redevelopment of such areas as the State Fairgrounds site, and mass transit, both in Nashville and the region. Some of these issues may impact your business, or maybe they will affect you on a personal level. Getting to know our elected officials involved in the issues you care about is the first step in helping effect change.
Voting is both a privilege and an important responsibility for business leaders. Having a good showing of business leaders at any Chamber event that involves our elected officials sends a strong message that we care about the issues, we are aware of their role in our lives, and we want them to understand and respect the role we play in building the economy. The Chamber gives you, the business owner, a platform to become engaged in the process by building a relationship with your elected officials and finding out their stance on business issues. Do they understand business and its importance to the city? Do they understand how businesses and neighborhoods co-exist? Get to know your mayor, vice mayor and council members before you may need them. Find common ground. Share your business story. See how you can work together on what’s important to you.
For more information on the candidates and the upcoming election, visit the Chamber’s website.
