If you are running for political office, this is what you need to know about our endorsement process.

LALCV mainly endorses candidates for Mayor and City Council in cities throughout Los Angeles County. Candidates for other offices who seek the LALCV endorsement should provide us with very good information about the environmental issues at stake in your race so we may consider whether or not to broaden our endorsement reach. For any race, the LALCV Board of Directors uses a four-step process in making its endorsements.

First, the Board reviews upcoming elections and decides which city or cities provide opportunities for LALCV involvement. We look at the potential environmental issues involved as well as the candidates who are running. Occasionally, candidates seek us out for an endorsement in a particular city and we sometimes become involved in that election. So, don’t be shy about seeking our support.

Second, an endorsement team is formed from members of the Board for each race where there is a potential for endorsement. In large cities, such as Los Angeles, an endorsement team is formed for each council district. In smaller cities, such as Culver City, one team is formed. The endorsement team sends questionnaires to all the declared candidates and specifies the date by which these must be answered and returned to the team captain. Team members then read each questionnaire and decide which candidates qualify for an in-person interview. Candidates who do not send in the questionnaire by the specified deadline, or not at all, do not qualify to be interviewed, and cannot be endorsed.

Third, if your written questionnaire warrants further consideration you will be asked to appear before the endorsement team at a time and place chosen by the committee. Each candidate is asked a set of questions during an interview of usually 45 minutes. When all the interviews are completed, the team has an in-depth discussion based on both the written and oral interviews and determines whether or not to make a recommendation to the full Board. If a recommendation to endorse is made to the LALCV Board, the recommendation may also include possible financial support.

Fourth, at a meeting of the full Board of Directors, the team presents its process, findings and recommendation(s). If the team recommends an endorsement, the Board discusses and then votes. If the Board votes to endorse, we then decide if, and at what level, a financial contribution to an endorsed candidate be made. Endorsed candidates are notified by the Board President as soon after the decision as possible.

You should be aware that all these deliberations are strictly confidential, although a candidates questionnaire and the notes from in-person interviews are available for public scrutiny. You should also understand that individual Board members will not discuss any substantive part of the discussions and deliberations with any of the candidates.

To request LALCV’s participation in a municipal election in Los Angeles County, please click here to send us an email with some information about yourself and the race. Please include your name and a telephone number so we can get back to you. Thanks!