As the leading voice of business, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing our members and the voters of our community with the information they need to know to make informed decisions in the local May 4 elections. 

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum for Chesapeake School Board candidates on April 15 at 6:30pm at the Chesapeake Conference Center.  Eleven candidates participated and fielded questions from the Chamber’s Chesapeake Board on topics such as budget cuts, teacher and administrator salaries, and capital improvement plans.  Raymond Jones of WHRO moderated the event which was open to the public.  The nine members of the Chesapeake School Board are elected to at-large seats and represent the entire city.  They are elected to four-year, staggered terms in May.

On April 21, the Chamber hosted a forum for Chesapeake City Council candidates.  The event, held at 6:30 at the Chesapeake Conference Center, was open to the public. Thirteen of the 17 candidates vying for the five open seats participated in the forum and answered questions regarding the rise of city spending, declining school enrollment, and public-private partnerships for redevelopment. Kevin Cosgrove, of Hunton & Williams, and immediate past chair of the Chamber’s Chesapeake Board, served as moderator.  Chesapeake's Mayor and City Council members are elected “at large” by Chesapeake citizens.  Elections are held in May every two years.  The terms of Vice Mayor John M. de Triquet and council members Bryan L. Collins, Dwight M. Parker, and Dr. Ella Ward, and Patricia P. Willis will expire this year.  The terms of Mayor Alan Krasnoff and council members C. E. "Cliff" Hayes, Jr., S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter and Rick W. West will expire in 2012. 

Both forums were televised live on Chesapeake’s Channel 48 WCTV.