Each day brings an avalanche of campaign mailers, television ads and nasty exchanges between candidates. And we usually need to look hard to find the fine print. Who’s paying for this campaign ad? Is it the candidate or a group supporting the candidate? If it’s a group, what axe are they grinding? What motivates them to spend money for or against a candidate?
Most of us observe strict campaign contribution limits. Individuals may contribute up to $1,200 for statewide candidates. For local candidates, supporters are limited to $600. Political parties are also limited in their support of candidates. But as Melissa Steele recently reported in the Cape Gazette, “While contribution limits are spelled out for individuals and political parties, there are none specifically for PACs,” or political action committees.
Multiple citizens exercise their right of free speech by pooling their money in PACs to influence elections. If you can afford to spend more and are motivated to do so, you can magnify your impact on politics by contributing to a PAC. As the excellent letter from Peggy Reilly recently made clear, that’s what we are now seeing more of in Delaware, even in local elections.
The Sussex Preservation Coalition is not a PAC. It is a 501(c)(3) organization that is non-partisan and is precluded by law from supporting candidates for public office. Many candidates from both political parties attend its public meetings to get information. SPC promotes resiliency, sustainability and climate adaptation, and seeks to preserve natural habitats for the well-being of all communities. With these goals in mind, SPC closely tracks county ordinances and proposed residential and commercial developments in Sussex County, raising questions about their potential adverse impacts.
Preserve Sussex is a PAC with a name that unfortunately resembles the SPC. It has pooled contributions from developers and construction-related entities across the county to back candidates for county council and the General Assembly during the current election cycle. Their goals do not appear to be aligned with those of the SPC, and the two organizations are in no way connected.
Know where the money behind a PAC comes from. Look for the fine print, scrutinize the message being conveyed, and you should be able to tell the difference.
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