John Reid of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, left, discusses the chamber's endorsement of Republican Dean Andal of Stockton, right, for the 11th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton on Wednesday morning. In the background is the U.S. Chamber's VoteForBusiness Bandwagon bus. The Lodi Chamber of Commerce also announced its endorsement of Andal and Jack Sieglock of Lodi, a Republican candidate for the 10th Assembly District. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)

Two chambers endorse Andal; Lodi Chamber endorses Sieglock

In one of only 10 endorsements to be made on Congressional and U.S. Senate races this year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican Dean Andal for the 11th Congressional District seat held by Democrat Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton.

At the same time, the Lodi Chamber of Commerce announced its endorsement of Andal, who lives in Stockton, and Republican Assembly candidate Jack Sieglock of Lodi.

The joint announcement was made Wednesday morning at the Blue Shield construction site.

Lodi Chamber President and CEO Pat Patrick said that Andal is a "more consistent business advocate" than McNerney and has the ethics, principles and integrity that Congress needs.

"It's an important race," said John Reid, senior director of editorial communications for the U.S. Chamber, based in Washington, D.C.

The announcements were made in front of a red, white and blue "VoteForBusiness" bus, which transported U.S. Chamber officials across southern and western states to endorse candidates and provide voter information. VoteForBusiness had a booth at the state fair later on Wednesday.

The Lodi Chamber's 12-member endorsement committee interviewed Andal and McNerney on Friday before choosing its endorsement.

"It was a thorough endorsement meeting," Andal said. "This was a workout."

Before a largely Republican crowd, Andal said the congressional election provides a very clear choice, with McNerney offering "higher taxes and more regulation."

America needs more oil drilling, nuclear energy and natural gas expansion to keep the United States from depending on its enemies for energy, Andal said. McNerney also wants to remove union members' rights to a secret ballot in union elections, according to Andal.

McNerney spokesman Andy Stone replied that McNerney supports drilling for oil on the 68 million acres of land the United States has access to. McNerney has also been friendly to business by wanting to eliminate the estate tax, and he has supported a variety of small-business tax cuts and credits, Stone said.

The union bill, which has passed the House and is pending in the Senate, would provide employees the choice of whether to vote by secret ballot, Stone said. It wouldn't mandate a non-secret ballot, he added.

In adding his personal endorsement of Sieglock, Andal noted that despite San Joaquin County being part of four Assembly districts, Sieglock is the only hope of having a county resident in the Assembly. All other major party candidates in the four Assembly districts live outside the county.

In an e-mail to the News-Sentinel later on Wednesday, Huber said she respectfully disagrees with the Lodi Chamber's choice to back Sieglock.

"I know my roots in Lodi will help me represent this area in the state Assembly — I graduated from Lodi High and attended Delta College," Huber said. "I know this community and will continue to work hard to let Lodians know my story and my moderate stance on the important issues facing this state."

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.