The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will dissolve its political action committee the WEHO PAC. The decision to dissolve WEHO PAC, rather than pause its active status was decided at the annual retreat of the board of directors last month. The formal documents arrived this week.
WEHO PAC, a separate entity from the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is/was a State Candidate political action committee that endorsed candidates for City Council, County, and State government positions. In the future, the WEHO PAC, or the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will NOT endorse candidates in any future city, county or state campaigns.
Genevieve Morrill, CEO and President of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce added: “No longer having a PAC will not diminish our commitment to strongly advocate for the business community we serve. Our focus remains on representing the interests of businesses — without the politics. Our role is to secure a seat at the table, ensure our issues are heard, and work collaboratively to find common ground and solutions. We play a vital role in providing critical information that helps policymakers understand the effects of legislation on our business community, its impact on the economy, and the ripple effects it has on our residents.” Morrill has announced her retirement and is with the Chamber Board of Directors toward a smooth transition.
David Wood, who served as Chair of the Chamber from 2022-2024 acknowledged the changes to the Chambers mission and approach. “We looked as some of the problems created with relationships during the last election cycle and decided to move in a different direction.
“Raj Sannidhi, the newly elected Chair of the Chamber added, “we can still advocate for the small businesses what is best without a political component to it.”
The end of the WEHO PAC also coincides with a clear delineation of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and its affiliated organization WEHO for the PEOPLE. The organization which intended to bring residents associations closer to the business community suffered conflicts of interest that resulted in the necessary changes.
The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will move forward as its own entity to advocate for the business community. The closure of the WEHO PAC leaves the UNITE HERE Local 11 as the only major political action committee endorsing and supporting candidates for the West Hollywood City Council.
The lead-up to the final decision came after a rough political season that included the resignation of the WEHO PAC Chair John Duran. https://wehoonline.com/duran-discloses-sexual-relationship-two-years-city-council-candidates-weho-pac-meeting/ , https://wehoonline.com/john-duran-resigns-weho-pac/, https://wehoonline.com/durans-sleazy-politics-infect-george-nickle-campaign/, https://wehoonline.com/zekiah-wright-weho-chamber-endorsed-candidate-arrested-felony-charges/
The results of the election left the chamber powerless to effect changes to the highest minimum wage and worker policy in the nation. We wrote about it here. GAME SET MATCH.
Beyond Duran’s pathological need for control, the Chamber failed to harness the momentum of the resistance against the Unite Here clique into a real political force. Instead of embracing their natural role as the bold alternative to an overwhelmingly unpopular establishment, they folded — mimicking the same progressive, woke tendencies they could have fought.
What could have been a fiery lightning rod of opposition ended up a lukewarm, milquetoast imitation, offering voters little more than a paler version of the status quo.
Another wake up call for John Duran. Before, for hiring men he slept with and costing the city a fortune. Now, for sleeping with candidates he endorsed leading to the death of WeHo PAC.
Did he hear it?
He has so much to offer. All tarnished by bad personal behavior and inappropriate sexual conduct.
Reasonable people may disagree about the WeHo PAC effectiveness, but the John Duran component is ignominous.
Zekiah was the kiss of death. They were a unite here operative and they won!
Hold on to your rent controlled apartment. It just went up in value.
This makes me sad and I don’t even live in West Hollywood.
“The closure of the WEHO PAC leaves the UNITE HERE Local 11 as the only major political action committee endorsing and supporting candidates for the West Hollywood City Council.”
and THAT is very dangerous. Unite Here will CONTINUE to OWN this city council. And our city’s spiral downward will continue.
The future of weho is 5 unite here seats and no counter balance. There seems to be no limit to the harm Duran has inflicted on the city
They shot themselves in the foot. I voted for you Larry!
John Duran should never be allowed to serve on any board or political organization again. His actions while serving on the city council were abhorrent and he resigned as Mayor after costing the city 750k hiring his Grindr trick, he resigned from the Gay Men’s Chorus after soliciting a member, and resigned from the Weho PAC after sleeping with two candidates. Duran is a disgrace to the gay community.
Unite Here now has full control over the political future of weho. Very sad day.
Rest in power WEHO PAC!