Last week Wisconsin 8th Congressional candidate Marc Savard, the Tea Party candidate said no to PAC money.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette pointed out in an editorial today how it differentiates him from the “typical” politician.
Politicians like to decry the influence of money in election campaigns, but when it comes to doing something about it, the response is usually a variation on “Great idea. You go first.”
In the 8th Congressional District, someone has gone first. Door County Board supervisor Marc Savard announced last week he will not accept campaign contributions from political action committees.Special-interest groups for years have formed PACs to pool their members’ resources to elect or defeat candidates for public office. Several campaign reform initiatives have attempted to limit the growing influence of PACs as opposed to individual constituents’ contributions.
How does it differentiate Marc from other candidates running for the seat?
“I don’t think any of us should take that money,” Brown County Supervisor Andy Williams said Monday, agreeing with Savard. Most of the other candidates were less willing to go that far.
Andy may be talking the talk, but as of yet hasn’t put the same type of pledge on his campaign site.
A spokesman for former state Rep. Terri McCormick noted that she hasn’t accepted any PAC contributions to date but acknowledged PACs were part of her fundraising effort when she ran for the nomination in 2006. Kerry Thomas of Sayner said he is withdrawing from the race to support McCormick, but he added, “I appreciate the fact that (Savard) is doing that and wish candidates would spend more time talking about what they care about and profess, rather than raising money.”
She only started her campaign in November 2009 and campaign finance reports for the 4th quarter aren’t due until January 31. So of course her spokesman can say she hasn’t accepted any PAC money since it can’t be verified yet. But Terri took PAC money in 2006, so it may be a fair assumption she will do so in this campaign as well. I wonder if Mr. Thomas will try influencing her not to based on his comment regarding Marc’s stance?
Dr. Marc Trager’s spokesman said his candidate is “prepared to accept donations from a variety of sources” but plans to be “very selective” regarding PAC contributions.
State Rep. Roger Roth, R-Appleton, said open, honest and fair elections require a level playing field that doesn’t exist now: “The incumbent always has a great advantage in his or her ability to raise money and influence contributors and this must change.”
Guess we should expect Dr. Trager and State Rep. Roger Roth to accept PAC money.
Savard’s stance does differentiate himself from the top GOP fundraiser so far, Reid Ribble, who reported $12,500 in PAC contributions among $130,690 in donations through Sept. 30. And it certainly sets him apart from incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, who reported raising $643,234, including $366,750 from PACs.
We know the good doctor has been beholden to the special interests since going to Washington. As for Reid I’ve already asked the question so we’ll see if anything has changed regarding his financial support after January 31.
Savard, who announced his candidacy last year shortly after Kagen began his second term, said he was bombarded last summer with solicitations from PACs.
“I already had an initial aversion … but that just put me over the top,” Savard told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. He said he plans to rely on contributions from individuals, even if it risks putting him at a huge disadvantage against Kagen.
A former Republican Party county chairman who has aligned himself with the limited-government “Tea Party” movement, Savard will have to work harder to get noticed. With this move he also earned himself some independence — something desperately needed in Washington, D.C. (Source: Savard first on donation gambit – GBPG)
Say what you want about PAC money, it’s part of the problem with Washington. Whether you agree with Marc’s position on PAC money or not at least you know he’s holding true to his convictions.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Savard: “I Won’t Take PAC Money” (lakeshorelaments.com)
- Lobbyists, PACs Donate More to Democrats (blogs.wsj.com)
- Campaign Money, Kagen, Ribble, and The Left (berrylaker.blogspot.com)
- How to change Washington (brvanlanen.wordpress.com)
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