Four members of the CalChamber board of directors have called on the business group to immediately take their new ad attacking Jerry Brown off the air, saying what has been cast as an "issue advocacy" campaign appears to be "nothing more than a typical political attack ad."
The letter to CalChamber President Allan Zaremberg comes hours after two groups filed complaints with the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that the ad violates state election laws.
The members, four of more than 90 currently serving on the board, write that they did not approve the ad and that they fear leaving it on air "undermines the Chamber's credibility."
"We participate in the Chamber to promote a healthy business climate, not to exacerbate unhealthy partisanship," the letter reads. "This is not the kind of 'education' approach with which we believe the Chamber should be associated."
University of California President and CalChamber board member Mark Yudof today slammed the ad on his Facebook page, saying, "I want to make absolutely clear that I was not aware of this ad. I did not and do not approve of it."
Former Gov. Pete Wilson, whose ties to the board and the campaign of GOP guv-hopeful Meg Whitman were targeted in the complaints, also denied involvement in the ad's approval, telling The Bee that the chamber did not consult with him on the campaign.
But Wilson, who said he had not seen the ad, seemed OK with its content. "My guess is this is issue advocacy that is permitted," he said.
Click here to read the letter from board members George Kieffer, Kevin Ratner, Robert Simonds and Cindy Starrett.
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