The Greater Long Beach Chamber of Commerce wants to school candidates for elected office.
The business group plans to offer "non-partisan training" at its 2009 Candidate Academy.
Classes, which begin next month, are for "individuals considering running for public office at all levels of government."
The upcoming workshops will constitute the chamber's fourth candidate academy class since 2005.
"We have trained a total of 76 people to run for public office," Randy Gordon, chamber president and CEO, said in a prepared statement. "Of the 76 people, 17 actually ran for office and of those 17, six won and are currently serving in some capacity ranging from Long Beach City Council, to the State Senate to Congress."
The chamber provided a list of 17 alumni -- liberals, conservatives and moderates -- from its academy.
Some of the better known graduates on the list who are in elected or appointed office include U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach; 3rd District Councilman Gary DeLong; 9th District Councilman Val Lerch; Long Beach Unified School Board members Felton Williams and John Meyer; and Planning Commission Chairwoman Becky Blair.
Classes meet from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday evening from Aug. 6 to Aug. 27 at Ristorante daVinci, 2801 E. Spring St., 3rd Floor, Long Beach.
Cost is $100 per person.
For information, contact Shaun Lumachi, the chamber's government affairs consultant, at 562-843-0947 or shaun@chamberadvocacy.biz
