Steve McAllister wears two hats.

He is the City Council President and a Democrat. He is also a Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that puts in the position of covering 11 states for the chamber.

On Tuesday, McAllister was wearing his chamber hat as he announced the chamber’s endorsement of Allan Fung, a Republican to represent Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District.

That may have seemed a conflict for those who follow politics and know as the Ward 7 Councilman and Council President, McAllister recently endorsed House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi and Governor Dan McKee, both Democrats, for reelection.

McAllister doesn’t see it that way. He said in an interview Wednesday that the chamber makes endorsements on federal races and he does not personally weigh in on those races. Just recently the chamber endorsed a New York Congressional candidate, a Republican, and McAllister had the honors on making the announcement.

“This happened to be in my home city,” he said. The press conference was held at Brewed Awakening on Route 2.

The Chamber endorses pro-business candidates for federal office who will vigorously support public policy that will advance economic growth, support jobs and promote fiscal responsibility according to the chamber release..

McAllister said Fung visited Washington earlier this year and was interviewed by the chamber. He said chamber members were impressed by Fung and felt that his experience as mayor of Cranston, understanding how a municipality operates and interacting with different interests in the community, qualify him as a candidate who can work across the aisle.

 In a statement “U.S. Chamber of Commerce Eastern Region Director Nick Vaugh said, “The son of immigrants, Allan understands the challenges facing job creators, workers, and families in Rhode Island. Allan’s commitment to free enterprise and pro-growth solutions critical to moving Rhode Island and our nation forward has earned him the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber. We are proud to endorse Allan Fung in his election for Congress.”

“I want to thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its endorsement of my campaign,” said Fung. “The Chamber is the leading voice for American business, and I am honored to have the support of their members. I am laser focused on curbing inflation and bringing good paying jobs back to Rhode Island with bipartisan, commonsense solutions. We need to build an economic environment where everyone has the opportunity to live the great American Dream, and I look forward to partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to invest in Rhode Island’s future.”

“As a small business owner, I have seen firsthand Allan Fung’s record of supporting small business and economic growth during his tenure as mayor,” said Brewed Awakening owner Dave Levesque. “While in office, he kept commercial taxes stable, cut red tape, and increased development in the city. While many of our local business owners have been struggling to keep up with the rising cost of goods, it is more important than ever to elect someone who is focused on curbing inflation and lowering the cost of doing business. When in office, I know that Allan will continue his track record of encouraging economic growth throughout the state.”