Money piles up for political committees

PACS have impact in Flathead County

Political action committee spending has reached new levels in Flathead County, potentially overshadowing the influence of local political parties.

Recently filed campaign finance reports demonstrate the different ways the committees spread their wealth.

In the case of two of them, the wealth comes from single contributors.

Excellence in Voting provides perhaps the most illustrative example of a local, Montana political action committee being all it can be.

Solely supported by Semitool founder and chief executive officer Ray Thompson with $20,000 during the primary election cycle and $54,000 for the general election, Excellence In Voting has been dishing out cash to Republican candidates and causes.

And Thompson's political action committee has been doing it every way possible: $28,000 in contributions to traditional Republican Party organizations, donations of $130 to individual legislative and county candidates, donations of $250 to statewide candidates, $4,000 to another Republican PAC, and $17,500 in direct media buys across the state.

Truth in Politics is another GOP-backing political action committee supported with a single contribution of $500 from Flathead County resident Richard Skees. Truth in Politics has spent money on advertising, lately targeting Joe Brenneman, the Democratic candidate for Flathead County commissioner.

The Assembly PAC, more commonly known as the Republican Assembly, received $4,000 since June and a total of $14,000 this year from Thompson's Excellence in Voting.

The Assembly, with Mike McKnight listed as the group's treasurer, has contributed maximum donations of $130 and $250 to a slate of local and statewide Republican candidates, along with advertising purchases.

Republicans for the Flathead is a political action committee that has focused its energies on opposing Denise Cofer, the Republican candidate for county commissioner. That group reported $4,000 in receipts since it was established in mid-September.

The money came from eight contributors, including John Hinchey, who ran an unsuccessful primary race for the commissioner's office and is listed as the group's treasurer.

Judging from contributions to the county's biggest race - the county commission contest - it's obvious that Democrats have mostly been funneling money directly to their candidate rather than political action committees.

Brenneman had raised $20,374 and spent $12,345 by the Oct. 22 reporting deadline. Cofer reported $11,890 in contributions and expenditures of $4,634 for the same period.

Dick Kuhl, a longtime Democratic leader in Flathead County, is disturbed by the increasing influence that political action committees have on local politics.

"This whole PAC business has really taken responsibility away from political parties," he said, noting that individuals can donate a maximum of $600 to the parties.

And most of the time, the public has no idea who is behind a political action committee, Kuhl said.

"Unless you check the courthouse, you never know who's behind these various PACs," he said.

In the case of Thompson's Excellence in Voting, he said, "one person has a huge influence on local politics."

Thompson was in Europe on Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.

Kuhl contended that it's time for some type of reform, even if it amounts to allowing higher contributions to political parties.

Senate President Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork, said Republicans also have frustrations with the growing influence of PACs.

"This issue runs down both sides of the street, that PACs have more money and more media influence than the parties themselves," he said. "But I don't think there's going to be any groundswell of interest to change that."

That, Keenan speculates, is because people are placated when they hear a political action committee echoing their positions.

"I think for the most part, people are delighted with the system when they see or hear their message," he said. "And they get uncomfortable and outraged when it comes from the other side."

Keenan predicts that political action committees will become even more influential.

"The bottom line is it's effective, it influences the vote and it's going to increase," he said.

While most of the political action committees are involved in partisan issues, one - Time to Build - was formed to support bond requests for Kalispell schools. Time to Build has raised $7,455 and spent $1,007.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com