The Chamber's real business

In its latest letter to members, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is beginning to sound a lot like a parody of Robin Smith, claiming people are picking on it for no good reason.

Well, there is good reason. The Chamber has put a lot of time, money and effort into trying to influence how Nashville's schools are run and because it exerts such influence, it's fair game for criticism.

When a candidate gets the Chamber's endorsement, he or she gets significant funds -- $5,000 per candidate which is hugely valuable in increasingly expensive campaigns.

Candidates also get help from Chamber members who offer expertise or services outside of the Chamber's umbrella.

Chamber members also contribute individually, adding to the Chamber's influence. Notable among those in the most recent campaign finance report is money given by Tom and Constance Cigarran. Tom Cigarran is a member of SuccessPAC, the Chamber's political action committee. The reports show that Tom and Constance each gave $1,000 to Sharon Gentry's campaign and Lee Limbird's campaign. Gentry's husband, former vice mayor Howard Gentry, works for the Chamber.

The Chamber claims that its money is given freely and without strings attached, which is true. However, major contributors get access to candidates and they use that access to promote the Chamber's agenda.

So what is the Chamber's agenda? That's what's unclear. It's obviously political because of the money it spends in that arena rather than on what's happening in the classrooms.

Most importantly, we must remember that the Chamber's mission in life is "supporting the growth and prosperity of Chamber-member businesses," according to its web site.

Whatever the Chamber has in mind for Nashville's schools, you can bet that educating all of Nashville's children is not topping the agenda. The Chamber's agenda is intended first to help its member businesses and that doesn't mean being an advocate for children who live in challenging social situations and who have no options other than the city's public schools.

The Chamber is not evil. It has a voice and it has a right to be heard. But if it's going to throw its money and power around at election time, it's a fair target for criticism and it better become accustomed to that.

    -- Jim Grinstead