PAC POLICIES
Purpose
The purpose of the Strengthening Central Oregon Political Action Committee (SCOPAC) is to elect candidates to public office who support the mission and policy priorities of SCOPAC.
Structure
SCOPAC is accountable to the SCOPAC Board of Directors and will be operated in accordance with these Bylaws and with any policies that may from time to time be adopted by a vote of the Board of Directors. Its operating procedures may be altered at the discretion of the Board of Directors from time to time as it deems necessary.
The PAC shall consist of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 Directors. PAC Directors shall serve for two-year terms following approval of their applications by the Board of Directors. The anniversary of terms shall coincide with the June Board meeting of odd-numbered years. After serving three consecutive terms, a PAC Director cannot serve on the PAC again until after a year’s absence. PAC Directors must formally seek reinstatement to the PAC at each two-year term and their appointment is contingent upon approval of the Board of Directors.
SCOPAC Directors must make a minimum $50 yearly monetary contribution to the PAC. They must also actively support SCOPAC’s fundraising activities on behalf of the PAC.
PAC Directors must immediately make clear any conflict of interest that would impede their ability to make fair and impartial decisions on behalf of the SCOPAC or give the appearance of partiality to the PAC’s operations. Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may be cause for dismissal.
The president of the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors as a whole may nominate candidates for PAC Directors. The Board of Directors must approve all applications for PAC Directors. PAC Directors may be removed by the Executive Committee through vote of a majority of Executive Committee members present and voting at any regular meeting. All prospective PAC Directors must fill out an application and provide both personal and professional references.
The Chair of the PAC shall preside over PAC Board of Director meetings and shall otherwise have the duties set forth in the Bylaws of SCOPAC.
The PAC Board Chair may select from its Directors a Vice-Chair who shall preside over PAC meetings in the Chair’s absence, as well as a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of meetings and shall convey any minutes, memoranda, or notes on activities of the PAC for purposes of maintaining accurate records from year to year. The treasurer shall sign all SCOPAC filings or publications that the treasurer is required to sign pursuant to Oregon law, as well as compile and file Oregon Ethics Commission reports and maintain all bank accounts and books for the PAC.
The PAC Board can vote in person,by telephone, video, or email - where in person is prefered.
The PAC Board will be comprised of at least 5 individuals and at maximum 15. A simple majority of PAC Directors shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE PAC
The PAC is responsible for:
Establishing candidate endorsement criteria,
Developing and revising candidate questionnaires and candidate interview forms, in consultation with staff and as necessary, legal counsel
Participating in interviewing candidates who are seeking SCOPAC’s endorsement
Recommending endorsements, levels of endorsements, financial contributions, in-kind contributions, independent expenditures and targeting decisions,
Establishing campaign-year budgets,
Soliciting funds for the PAC subject to the approval of the Board and subject to SCOPAC’s overall calendar and fundraising plans,
Complying with the Oregon Campaign Finance Disclosure Law
CONFIDENTIALITY
Given the reality of politics and the need to protect our decision-making process from disclosure, the criteria used by the SCOPAC to target races, candidate questionnaires, and the minutes of its meetings will all be confidential. All of these materials will be available to the Directors of the PAC.
PAC Directors may not speak to the media on behalf of the PAC or offer information to candidates on behalf of the PAC without prior authorization from the PAC Chair. PAC Directors must be held to the highest levels of confidentiality and should avoid any perception of bias or impropriety in the PAC’s decision-making.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Directors of the PAC are expected to identify any direct or indirect conflict of interest, such as being involved in a campaign, public support of or donor to a candidate prior to discussion and vote pertaining to endorsements or targeting. A PAC Director must recuse themselves in voting if:
They have a personal or professional relationship that would reasonably create the appearance of a significant conflict of interest.
The PAC Director is a major donor ($100 or more) to the candidate or to the candidate's opponent.
The PAC Director has publicly endorsed the candidate or the candidate's opponent.
The PAC Director would indirectly/directly benefit professionally or financially from the candidate’s election or defeat.
PAC Directors running active campaigns may also be asked to take a leave of absence for the duration of the campaign.
DEFINITION OF SCOPAC qualifying CANDIDATES
For purposes of the following policies, candidates will be identified as meeting SCOPAC criteria for support based on information provided in a completed and returned SCOPAC questionnaire, their voting records and telephone or personal interviews with a minimum of two PAC Directors when at all possible.
CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT
Prior to each Primary and General Election, the PAC will prepare a list of endorsed candidates. This list may be sent to the SCOPAC Board and may be released to the media. The endorsement list will include only those candidates who meet the criteria outlined below and who have requested in writing to be included on the list.
The PAC’s candidate endorsement decisions, including sole candidate endorsement, multiple candidate endorsement, resource allocation, or rescinding past endorsement will be made in consideration of the following goals of the SCOPAC endorsement process:
SCOPAC’s ability to have an electoral impact.
Effective allocation of SCOPAC’s campaign resources
Advancement of our agenda to strengthen Central Oregon.
Rewarding candidates who support SCOPAC’s objectives.
Promotion of SCOPAC and its reputation.
Public validation of a candidate’s pragmatic, common sense, practical, pro Central Oregon credentials.
A SCOPAC endorsement applies only to the campaign and the public position the candidate is seeking. If a candidate gains a new position or campaigns for a different position than they initially applied, they must submit a new request for an endorsement.
The term of an SCOPAC endorsement is:
● From the day the SCOPAC board votes to endorse until the Secretary of State certifies election results for candidates who do not win elections.
● From the day the SCOPAC board votes to endorse until the candidate ends his/her term in office or files a “Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee” or “declaration of candidacy” with the Secretary of State for candidates who win election.
The PAC reserves the right to rescind or refuse an endorsement and/or organizational support at any time by a majority vote of the PAC if a candidate fails to live up to or damages their ability to meet any of the endorsement criteria. If a Director of the PAC moves to rescind an endorsement, the vote on rescinding the endorsement will take precedence over all other PAC business.
SCOPAC will not authorize the use of its name or resources by any candidate or campaign not endorsed by the PAC.
ENDORSEMENT
1. Questionnaire/Interviews/Endorsement reviews (Primary and General Election)
The text of the questionnaire will be reviewed and approved by the PAC at least four months prior to the election date.
The questionnaire shall:
Be reviewed and modified prior to every election season.
Use "yes or no" questions as a format and include a comment section.
All returned candidate questionnaires will be shared with PAC Directors prior to these meetings for review and the PAC will decide on an interview schedule for candidates. The PAC will vote in person at each meeting on candidate endorsement. Approval will require a simple majority. PAC Directors not in attendance may vote electronically or by phone prior to or during the meeting. If a simple majority is not present to vote, the vote will be held electronically immediately following the meeting. Following each PAC meeting, the Board will be asked for an electronic vote on the recommended slate of candidates, using guidelines stated previously in these policies.
When possible, primary election candidates in contested races and all General election candidates must be interviewed by telephone or in person by at least two Directors of the PAC. The PAC may assign one Director of the PAC to conduct an interview when necessary.
The PAC must have a candidate's completed and signed questionnaire in hand in order to endorse the candidate. Information returned on SCOPAC questionnaires is confidential.
2. Endorsement Goals and Policies
A. Endorsement Criteria
SCO PAC endorsement criteria are:
● Demonstrated support for SCOPAC’s objectives
● Support for SCOPAC
● Support for SCOPAC’s priorities
● Electability in both the Primary and General Election
Endorsements must, at a minimum, be based on:
● The candidate's questionnaire response.
● The candidate's interview.
● Or, in the case of previously endorsed candidate, an annual vote by the PAC to continue endorsement upon review of the candidate’s record.
B. Description of Criteria:
Examples of leadership and professionalism include, but are not limited to:
Voting record reflective of SCOPAC priorities
History of and willingness to champion Central Oregon and SCOPAC
Work in Community
Talking with other elected and community leaders
Participating in SCOPAC events
Ability to advance SCOPAC agenda
Examples of electability include, but are not limited to:
● Credibility of campaign
● Number of doors knocked
● Ability to raise money
● Candidate's platform
● Name familiarity
● Other endorsements
Other factors the PAC may consider in the endorsement process include, but are not limited to:
● Legislative records
● Contribution and expenditure reports.
● Expansion of diversity in leadership
● Significant leadership in Central Oregon
C. ALL ENDORSEMENT POLICIES
SCOPAC will focus on endorsements in select municipal races that have demonstrable impact on the mission of our organization. This includes but is not limited to races in which:
● There is “budgetary authority and oversight” for programs that provide an opportunity to advance SCOPAC policies
● There is a known radical right incumbent or candidate in a position to advance their extremist agenda
● The endorsement would be bolstered and spearheaded by local community members
● PAC involvement would build strong, pragmatic leadership or expand diversity in the governing body
Types of support that might be available to candidates depending on the PAC’s resources include:
● Public use of “SCOPAC” and logo on approved campaign materials.
● Campaign strategies and talking points
● Progressive voter targeting and analysis of past performance
● Access to identified likely supportive voters in their district
● Social media promotion to SCOPAC’s email list serve and social media followers
● SCOPAC may decide, in pivotal local elections, to participate in canvassing or phone banking for a local candidate
D. Primary Elections Endorsement Goals:
At the winter PAC meeting during an Election year, we will affirm endorsement and targeting criteria. The PAC will make their Election endorsement decisions in consideration of the following stated PAC goals, ranked in order of importance:
● Public validation of a candidate’s credentials reflecting SCOPAC
● Promotion of SCOPC and its reputation
● Advancement of SCOPAC agenda
● Rewarding candidates support for Central Oregon and SCOPAC.
● Effective allocation of SCOPAC’s campaign resources.
● SCOPAC’s ability to have an electoral impact.
E. Primary Endorsement Policy
The endorsement policy of SCOPAC is to assist strong common sense, practical, pragmatic candidates in winning election in both Primary and General local Elections. To that end, SCOPAC will single out the best candidate in each race whenever possible. However, in primary races where multiple viable candidates meet SCOPAC criteria, the PAC can endorse more than one viable candidate, or choose to stay out of the race.
To earn a primary endorsement, a candidate must have a legitimate and reasonable chance of electoral victory in both the primary and general election. To make multiple endorsements in any race, a majority of the voting PAC Directors must vote in favor of a motion to endorse more than one candidate. The PAC can make multiple endorsements but will not make duel endorsements.
F. General Elections Goals
The PAC will make their General election endorsement decisions in consideration of the following stated PAC goals, ranked in order of importance:
● SCOPAC’s ability to have an electoral impact.
● Allocation of SCOPAC’s campaign resources.
● Advancement of SCO PAC’s agenda
● Rewarding candidates support for Central Oregon and SCOPAC.
● Promotion of SCOPAC and its reputation
● Public validation of a candidate’s credentials.
G. General Elections Endorsement and Targeting Policy
The endorsement policy of the SCOPAC is to strategically assist strong candidates in winning elections.
All endorsed candidates who win their primary are automatically endorsed in the general election.
The PAC will meet in the month of June to select which candidates will be targeted in the General Election. A majority vote by PAC Directors who are present is required to target a candidate.
Targeted candidates will be determined based on Endorsement Criteria, electability, and potential for building practical, pragmatic leadership.
The PAC will meet in the month of September and review, confirm, and/or adjust the slate of targeted candidates for the general election.
A targeted candidate is one whom SCOPAC will support publicly to the maximum extent possible within its resources. The PAC should make an effort to concentrate its targeting of resources on key local races.
Additional, vital points of consideration:
● Current campaign resources of the candidate
● Opponent's positions and activities
● Impact on local leadership
● Overlap with other targeted or endorsed races
● Campaign support from other organizations
● Demonstrated pragmatic leadership
● Commitment to strong leadership on issues critical to Central Oregon
● Donors/Directors responsive to candidate
● Voting record of district
● Registration of district
● Ability of SCOPAC and our likely voters to impact outcome of election
Types of support that might be available to targeted candidates depending on the PAC's resources include:
● Public use of our name and logo as an endorser
● Campaign strategies and talking points
● Access to identified likely voters in their district
● Access to our membership list in their district
● Likely voter targeting and analysis of past performance
● Voter communications – Phone banks, canvasses, mailers
● Social media promotion to SCOPAC’s email list serve and social media followers.
● Get-Out-The-Vote efforts
● Volunteer assistance
● In-kind mailings and ads
● In-kind campaign staff
● Media assistance – press releases, quotes, op-ed, letters to the editor
F. Interim Local Appointments
On rare occasions, the SCOPAC will offer endorsements for interim local appointments. When this is determined to meet our endorsement goals, the PAC will follow the same guidelines as outlined above on a modified timeline to coincide with the local appointment.