Transcript PAC Review
Working with NOW/PAC:
Endorsements & Elections
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
8:00 p.m. EST
Welcome
Bonnie Grabenhofer
Action Vice President
Linda Berg
Political Director
Overview of NOW PACs
Purpose
Structure
Candidate criteria
Endorsement processes
Political Organizing Manual
Polling Questions
Do you have a state PAC?
If “Yes” Raise Your Hand
Does your chapter have a PAC?
If “Yes” Raise Your Hand
Purpose of a NOW PAC
To increase the number of feminists
elected to public office
To advance the feminist agenda through
electoral activity
Regulations
NOW/PAC is…
regulated by federal law administered by
the Federal Election Commission
“separate segregated fund” of NOW, Inc.
which can only solicit and accept
contributions from current NOW
members
Anatomy of the NOW/PAC
3 National NOW Officers
President PAC Chair
Vice President of Membership Treasurer
Action Vice President
3 National NOW Board members
3 At-large members
Advisors
Current Committee
Members
National NOW Officers
Terry O’Neill (Chair)
Chitra Panjabi (Treasurer)
Bonnie Grabenhofer
National NOW Board
Members
Elisabeth Harper
Jocelyn Morris
Kim Villanueva
At-Large Members
Bear Atwood
Jacqueline Kozin
Linda Tosti Lane
Board Advisors
Carol Moseley Braun
Janet Canterbury
Patricia Ireland
Ellie Smeal
Senior Advisors
Political Director
Linda Berg
Gay Bruhn
Pat Reuss
Anatomy of a State or
Chapter PAC
PAC Chair
Treasurer
PAC Committee
Operating rules
Candidate Criteria
Stopping violence against women
Abortion and reproductive rights
Economic justice
Ending sex discrimination
Lesbian rights (including marriage
equality)
Promoting diversity and ending racism
Candidate Criteria
Stopping violence against women
Abortion and reproductive rights
Economic justice
Ending sex discrimination
Lesbian rights (including marriage
equality)
Promoting diversity and ending racism
NOW/PAC Values
The most important factor for endorsement
consideration is a candidate’s positions on
NOW’s 6 priority issues
If candidate support for NOW issues is equal:
NOW/PAC will prioritize electing a feminist
woman over a man
NOW/PAC will consider feminist incumbents’
long-time support
NOW/PAC Values – cont’d
NOW/PAC will involve states/members in
the endorsement process and candidate
support
Questionnaire or
Interview – Pros and Cons
Questionnaire
Narrows the field
Can’t tell depth of
commitment
Ensures uniformity of
questions
Some won’t fill it out
Can’t be sure candidate
filled it in
No personal relationship
Interview
No substitute for face to
face
Opportunity to educate
and persuade
Begins personal
relationship
More difficult to arrange
for candidate and PAC
Incumbents want to be
judged on record
NOW/PAC Candidate
Interview Guidelines
Sample questions for each issue/criteria
Ask enough to determine strength of
commitment to each issue
Open a dialog
Take good notes
Integrate questions with state issues
Adapt questions for state candidates
Find it on the chapters only section of NOW
website
State/
Chapter
PAC
Contacts
candidate and
sends
questionnaire/
interview
If candidate good
then sends
recommendation
for endorsement to
NOW/PAC Director
Candidate
Contacts
NOW/PAC
Director for
Endorsement
Completes
questionnaire/
interview
NOW/
PAC
Director
NOW/
PAC
Committee
Researches
Federal
Candidates
Encourages
state/ PAC to
investigate
candidate
State / chapter /
members provide
support
Candidate
can ask for
support
Provides
information;
requests vote
from
committee
Votes to endorse
candidate; if YES . . .
Sends
endorsement
letter to
candidate &
informs state
Creates
website profile
for candidate
Provides list/
other support
The
Process
Example Endorsement Letter
Example Website Info.
Political Organizing Manual
PAC Structure and Operation
Fundraising
Analyzing Districts and Recruiting
Candidate Support and Endorsement
Interview and Questionnaire Guidelines
Campus Campaign Organizing
Hands-on Campaigning
Reference Material
Accessing the New NOW
Leaders Website
Political Organizing Manual
New Chapters Only Website screen shot to be inserted
Women’s Votes will
Decide the Future
Save the Senate, elect feminists and
work toward electing a woman president
Organize to elect feminist candidates
Chapter do’s and don’ts
Feminist Field Force
QUESTIONS?
Contact Linda Berg
202-628-8669 x 146
[email protected]