The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce acts as an advocate for businesses within the City of Peoria and surrounding areas regarding local and state government issues and legislation. Members of the GAC consist of business and civic leaders in our community with a solid pulse on what is happening at the local, state, and federal level and how our business community may be affected. The GAC committee tracks legislation that will impact businesses, acts as a coalition to serve the interested of the business community, and fosters communication between the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, the City of Peoria, and the State Legislature to elicit positive changes that will promote a pro-business environment.
The Peoria Chamber of Commerce does not undertake political efforts that endorse candidates for office. As a member of the Arizona Chamber Executives , the Peoria Chamber collaborates with chambers across the state to develop a Legislative Agenda that dictates our areas of focus when reviewing legislation. If you are a member of our Chamber and have a particular interest in any pending or future legislation that will impact your business, contact Rhonda Carlson at [email protected] to discuss further.” Make next sentence a new paragraph with appropriate spacing.
New in 2025, our Government Affairs Committee is in the process of working with the City of Peoria to establish a Small Business Coalition (SBC) to ensure the unique needs of our small businesses are being met through the heavy economic development impacting our region. If you would like to support our business advocacy efforts or if you are a small business interested in joining the SBC, click below to join us!
Legislative authority is vested in a six-member council and the mayor. In 1989, the City Charter was amended to change the method of electing the councilmembers from an at-large system to a district system. Peoria’s six council districts and council members are:
The council members are elected for four-year terms on a staggered basis. The mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term, which was an amendment to the City Charter approved by voters on March 11, 1997.
Within the mayor and city council website you can find information on each of the city of Peoria’s districts. You can also find information on each city of Peoria district councilmember, including biography, district map, newsletter and contact information. Information is also available for the mayor and mayor’s office.
In the Fall of 2023, our Government Affairs Committee, led by our CEO, Rhonda Carlson, spearheaded efforts to support small businesses being retroactively taxed under the TPT – Amusements, Exhibitions, and Similar Activities tax. Through media engagement, advocacy at city council meetings, and collaboration with the City of Peoria, we were able to save approximately 40 small businesses that operate dance, martial arts, and gymnastics businesses a collective $1M in claimed, retroactive tax expense. Learn more about our efforts and contact us if you have received a tax collection letter regarding this tax.
It’s easy to locate your Council District using the City of Peoria’s interactive Council District Map. Enter your street address to locate your council district.
If you are a business experiencing any challenges at the city, state, or federal level, please contact Rhonda Carlson at (623) 979-3601 or [email protected] for assistance.
