PRESS RELEASE DeLong CA47: Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Letter

Gary DeLong (R-CA-47)

February 14, 2012

Long Beach Councilmember Gary DeLong is running for Congress, and the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee has endorsed Councilmember DeLong for the newly created 47th Congressional District (Avalon, Cypress, Garden Grove, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Signal Hill, Stanton, Rossmoor and Westminster). DeLong has been recognized by local business leaders, elected officials and many other community leaders as the pro-business candidate for Congress for our region.

That is why the Chamber found it rather unsettling that in several blog posts by current 5th District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske, she is attacking DeLong’s credibility as a pro-business leader. Matter of fact, DeLong is the only councilmember currently on the Council to own and operate a successful small business, making him an even more viable candidate to represent business for the 47th Congressional seat. DeLong also remains one of the true business friendly councilmembers for business in Long Beach.

Councilmember Schipske has routinely voted against business in our wonderful city. Schipske continues to be beholden to pro-labor union groups that aim to place business in Long Beach at an economic disadvantage. DeLong has time and time again stood against such groups and seeks ways to bring the business community’s voice to the forefront.

The Chamber is pleased to hear that DeLong announced a plan to visit 100 Businesses in 100 Days in order to hear firsthand what he can do for small business in our nation’s capital. Furthermore, DeLong’s concern for job creation is paramount as the economic futures of tomorrow’s workforce seem bleak as current leaders continue to add to the federal deficit and “kick the can down the road,” placing the burden of balancing a budget on our children and grandchildren. DeLong’s local experience of balancing the budget will go a long way in helping to facilitate this extreme need in Washington.

Here are just a few other words from community leaders about Congressional Candidate Gary DeLong:

“I am confident Gary DeLong will bring his track record of balancing city budgets to Washington and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.” – Former Governor George Deukmejian

“Gary DeLong has earned my support. Gary knows firsthand what it takes to create jobs — that’s what he’s done for more than 20 years as a small businessman.” – Congressman Dan Lungren

“I am pleased to support Gary DeLong for Congress. I know I can count on Gary to support my efforts in growing our economy, supporting our small and medium size businesses so they can create jobs for our citizens, and reigning in government spending.” – Congressman Ed Royce

“Gary DeLong shares my belief that government needs to do more to support small businesses and improve our economy. Taxpayers can count on him to stand up and oppose new and higher taxes.” – California Board of Equalization Vice-Chair Michelle Steel

“Strong leadership is more essential than ever for our country and Gary DeLong has proven his ability to represent his constituents well. Gary has more than 30 years of experience in the private sector creating jobs and managing budgets. I know he will work hard to get our economy moving again and our people back to work when he gets to Washington, D.C.” – Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe

“A small businessman and successful local leader, Gary DeLong is a dedicated fiscal conservative committed to our effort to eliminate government waste and fraud and create jobs with lower taxes and business-friendly economic policies.” – Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich

“Councilmember DeLong is the right person in the right place at the right time. Our country needs leaders like Gary who can work with people with differing views to build consensus on difficult issues. I’m confident he can bring his business skills and public service experience to improve the fiscal health of Washington.” – Long Beach Area Chamber Chairman Joanne Davis

“I’m supporting Gary DeLong for Congress because he is a fellow business owner who knows that in order to grow our economy the private sector must be the ones to create long term jobs. Gary is a pragmatic leader who recognizes that the federal government cannot continue to overspend and increase the debt burden on our children.” – John Dameron, President of Dameron Alloy Foundries, a 65 year-old California company.

Schipske has a hard time siding with business in Long Beach. Like the anti-business legislators in Sacramento, Schipske doesn’t understand how difficult it is to create and grow businesses in California. We need real people with real solutions to our economic issues and we need a business person, like DeLong, who knows how to sign the front of a paycheck, not just the back of a paycheck…

…and that’s Strictly Business.

Randy Gordon

President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce