The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors this week voted to endorse candidates in city, county and Port of Seattle races – not just on position, but on individual candidate qualifications.

The Chamber invited all candidates running for the positions to participate in their interview process. Each candidate that participated completed a pre-interview questionnaire and scheduled a private interview with the Chamber’s Government Affairs Candidate Interview Task Force.

The board approved the following endorsements:

Endorsed highly qualified

• Pete Lewis – City of Auburn Mayoral race

• Gene Cerino – City of Auburn Council, Position 2

• John Partridge – City of Auburn Council, Position 2

• Nancy Backus – City of Auburn Council, Position 4

• Rich Wagner – City of Auburn Council, Position 6

• Paul Mallary – City of Algona Council, Position 4

• John Creighton – Port of Seattle, Position 1

• Rob Holland – Port of Seattle, Position 3

• Tom Albro – Port of Seattle, Position 4

• Max Vekich – Port of Seattle, Position 4

• Reagan Dunn – King County Council, District 9

• Dow Constantine – King County Executive

• Susan Hutchison – King County Executive

Endorsed qualified

• David Doud – Port of Seattle, Position 3

• Beverly Harison Tonda – King County Council, District 9

Not endorsed

• Virginia Haugen – City of Auburn Mayoral race

• Kevin Cline – City of Pacific, Position 5

Candidates invited to participate but chose not to: Erik Madsen – City of Algona Council, Position 1; Bill Thomas – City of Algona, Council Position 1; Lynda Osborn – City of Algona Council, Position 2; Barbara Lourdes – City of Pacific Council, Position 2; John Jones – City of Pacific Council, Position 2; Leanne Guier – City of Pacific Council, Position 4; James McMahan – City of Pacific Council, Position 5; Tren Walker – City of Pacific Council, Position 7