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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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]