Opinion: Your vote impacts your business, your community

Bob Helm

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to strengthening public education and local governance – both essential to our workforce and economic vitality. Strong leadership in our schools and city government is crucial to meeting today’s competitive economic demands while preserving the high quality of life that makes Springfield a great place to live, work and learn.

For over 20 years, the chamber has advocated for academically excellent schools that are accountable, safe and future-focused. We also support policies that drive economic growth, enhance infrastructure, ensure public safety and uphold fiscal responsibility. The effectiveness of these priorities depends on electing leaders who champion these goals, making voter engagement a key part of our mission.

As we approach the April 8 election, those living within the city of Springfield or Springfield Public Schools boundaries have the opportunity to bring business needs to the ballot box. We encourage you to engage as an informed voter by utilizing our voter education resources, designed to help you evaluate how candidates approach the issues that matter most to our business community.

In past years, the chamber endorsed candidates for the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education and participated in the Springfield Good Government Committee, which recruited, endorsed and financially supported Springfield City Council candidates. However, after years of careful evaluation, our board determined that our influence would be most effective through a voter education model rather than endorsement.

This shift was not made lightly. A diverse group of business, civic, and community leaders led a thorough review, asking a fundamental question: Is endorsement the best way for the chamber to impact local nonpartisan elections?

Several factors influenced the decision. Trends showed that endorsements were becoming less effective, while increasing partisanship and the influence of dark money organizations added complexities to candidate engagement. The chamber also regularly received feedback – both positive and negative – on the endorsement process. Ultimately, we chose a model that provides equitable access to information, allowing voters to make informed, business-minded decisions.

Since transitioning to this model, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from candidates, chamber members and community leaders. Our voter education materials – including a written voter guide, candidate video interviews and a comprehensive online election resource – offer a clear, unbiased look at where candidates stand on business-related issues.

In fact, leading up to the April 2024 election, we distributed over 600 voter guides and recorded over 10,000 digital impressions and 1,000 video views. We expect to surpass these numbers in 2025, reflecting growing demand for nonpartisan election resources.

Our voter engagement efforts extend beyond simply providing resources. The chamber remains committed to identifying and equipping strong leaders to serve in public office. Running for local office is a significant commitment – often unpaid and subject to intense public scrutiny. Yet strong education and city governance leadership are more critical than ever.

At the Springfield chamber, we believe it is our responsibility not only to encourage business-minded individuals to run but also to provide training and education on key issues impacting our economy. Our approach ensures that both candidates and voters are well-informed about the business community’s priorities and their impact on the long-term success of Springfield.

Springfield’s future is shaped by the leaders we elect. By engaging in the electoral process, we strengthen our business climate, workforce and overall quality of life.

We encourage you to review our voter guides, watch video interviews and discuss key issues with fellow business leaders and employees. When business-minded voters show up, we create a stronger, more competitive and future-focused Springfield.

For access to voter education resources from the chamber, visit SpringfieldChamber.com/candidates.

Bob Helm is the chair of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and partner at Elliott Robinson & Co. LLP. He can be reached at rhelm@ercpa.com.