Club secretary emphasizes guidelines about Club election events, endorsements

One of the National Press Club’s proudest traditions is that all members, in their personal and private capacity, may endorse any candidate for Club office, including sponsoring “meet the candidate” events.

There are some guidelines, however, that must be followed:

Committee chairs are appointed by the president and serve at his or her pleasure. They have no authority to speak for the Club in any matter unless designated by the president to do so, nor to speak for their committee in any matter that is not included in the committee’s charter.

Committees are not campaign committees and, therefore, committees are not authorized to spend committee funds for any political purpose, including “meet the candidates” events. Committees cannot endorse any candidate.

Club officers and governors are elected officials and are expected to have opinions and to state positions. Therefore, it is acceptable for Club officers and governors to endorse candidates and to use their titles in doing so.

Club staff members are expected to remain strictly neutral in all Club eletions and to be careful to avoid any appearance of endorsing a candidate. Club members should avoid asking staff members to take any action that might be considered endorsing or supporting a candidate. A staff member who needs guidance on a particular issue should direct his or her question to Club Executive Director William McCarren with a cc to the Club secretary ([email protected]).

Club members with questions on these guidelines, which reflect long-time past practice of the Club, should contact Election Board chair Jonathan Salant at [email protected] with a cc to the Club secretary ([email protected]).

Staff members with questions should direct them to McCarren.