What does “PC” mean?

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

July 21, 2016 1:00 a.m.

Personal computer … politically correct … protective custody … and the list goes on. But PC has a special meaning in context of Florida politics: Political Committee, often used interchangeably with the term PAC—Political Action Committee.

According to the Florida Department of State Handbook on Political Committees, there are both pros and cons to using such committees in political campaigns:

Election laws regarding PCs are complicated. They are not to be confused with Committees of Continuous Existence (CCEs) or Electioneering Communications Organizations (ECOs), as the chart below explains.

This year PCs have even become a factor in Nassau County campaigns. Many people in the community have expressed their distaste over a particularly negative postcard mailing targeting Kathy Burns, candidate for Nassau County School Superintendent. No other candidate's name appeared on the mailing, a concern cited by those who were looking for the usual “paid for and approved by …” tagline. Instead, this mailing was put out by The Liberty Leadership Fund PC.

Many people familiar with the qualifications and experience of all the candidates in the race expressed confusion as they tried to understand how the Burns bashing helped the other candidates--Janet Adkins and Cheryl Reynolds James-- against whom the same charges could have been leveled.  

The Liberty Leadership Fund PC and former ECO

According to the Florida Department of State website, this PC began its existence 5-6 years ago as an “Electioneering Communications Organization,” but recently disbanded and reformed as a “Political Committee.” Its statement of organization reveals that is a political organization, a “Statewide committee to support or oppose candidates for statewide, legislative, multi-county or municipal office, or other activities not prohibited by Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.”

Paperwork to the Florida Department of State requesting creation of the PC was submitted via the Coates Law Firm at the same address on March 29, 2016. The registered agent and treasurer for the committee is William S. Jones, 115 East Park Avenue, Suite 1, Tallahassee, FL 32301.

William S. Jones is listed on the Division of Elections website as the chairperson of 62 PCs, CCEs, and ECOs, of which:   36 remain active, 22 have been closed, and 4 whose registrations were revoked. Some of the other PCs he chairs include: Committee for Responsible Representation, First Coast Conservatives, Good Government for Florida, Principled Leadership Fund, and Truth Matters.

The Coates Law Firm was singled out in by the Orlando Sentinel in 2012 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-07/news/os-republican-group-attacking-democrats-20120907_1_democratic-senate-candidates-maria-sachs-progressives as “a Republican-linked group operating under a liberal-sounding name” targeting Democratic Candidates in competitive state Senate races under the name “Progressives.” The article claimed that Richard Coates, the head of the law firm, is the general Counsel for the Republican Party of Florida.

In 2015, the Tampa Tribune revealed this firm’s connection to two other PACs credited with negative mailings designed to defeat certain candidates. The article http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/top-gop-consultants-planned-anti-maniscalco-fliers-20150413/ included this statement:

Setting up a temporary PAC is a common way to obscure who is behind the funding of a candidate, said Scott Paine, a University of Tampa political science professor. …“This whole thing was obviously set up to make it impossible for the public to know who is putting money into this race,” Paine said.

In its prior existence as an Electioneering Communications Organization, The Liberty Leadership Fund had received $127,543.60 between the time of its creation in 2011 until its disbandment in 2015. During that same period it listed expenditures of $128,026.90. On December 9, 2015, Maria Matthews, Director of the Division of Elections issued the ECO a Final Notice of Intent to cancel its registration for lack of recent financial activity. The Liberty Leadership reformed and filed as a PC on March 19, 2016. It appeared to list only $3,462.05 in contributions for its first filing period covering March 19-31, 2016.

Yet The Liberty Leadership Fund in March made two $10,000 contributions to another PC named “Let’s Get It Done,” located here in Fernandina Beach.

Let’s Get It Done!

The PC named “Let’s Get It Done!” was formed in May 2015 and on official paperwork lists Douglas Adkins, 863 Laguna Drive, Fernandina Beach, FL as its agent, treasurer and chairman. Mr. Adkins, the Executive Director of Dayspring Village, is the husband of State Representative Janet Adkins, who is now running for School Superintendent. To date and since its formation, that PC has collected $38,400 in contributions and spent $30,250.03. [see http://dos.elections.myflorida.com ].

Adkins was required to submit to the Division of Elections a Statement of Organization, which he did on May 12, 2015. In the places where the PC is to specify which issues or candidates it intends to support, the form reads: To Be Determined.

To be sure, there is no direct connection between the Janet Adkins Campaign for Nassau County School Superintendent and either The Liberty Leadership Fund PC or the Let’s Get It Done! PC. The funding of the anti-Burns mailer was done by The Liberty Leadership Fund PC, which also pumped $20,000 into Doug Adkins’ PC.

While you may find Political Committees infuriating and distasteful, they are perfectly legal. The law surrounding them at the state and federal level is complicated and written in such a way as to protect the donors’ identity and avoid transparency. While they do not always make contributions to candidates, they can undertake activities on behalf of candidates (or against candidates) via activities like polling, mailings, and media buys. We see their work in the fine print following many political TV commercials.

And now we can see their influence in Nassau County.

Editor's Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne's many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.