We're looking into the legal and logistical possibilities, around starting a Political Action Committee (PAC) to try and effect change via the upcoming elections.  The idea is, we'll find out where each candidate stands, and then support whichever candidates stand FOR the Lighthouse.  Whoever doesn't?  We'll support their opponent.  This transcends party lines. Once we've gone through the 100+ pages of laws and figured it all out, we're thinking we can really make a dent.  We have to get over 50 donors that have to donate to at least 5 political candidates.  There are several Islander Message boards with several thousand members total so this should not be a problem.  Considering there's 6 people on the Town Board that are running this should be easy enough.  The only thing we haven't found is the resource material for what NY State's PAC rules are - anyone that might know please help us out here.  We have to get through the Federal stuff first. Six months from now, we can really begin stepping up and getting our voices heard at Town Hall and the County Hall.

What we'll likely need is, at the very least, a treasurer/assistant treasurer (big responsibility!) and someone who's good with web stuff.  We'll need an improved webpage and if we can make it work, some sort of online donation form, so that people can log on and donate.  If we could figure that out, we think it'd become real easy to make a major dent in this whole process.

We're thinking of possibly registering the PAC name Islanders Community Endeavor Political Action Committee, or "I.C.E. P.A.C."  With so many people wanting this to happen, we think we could pick up a lot of money, to help effect changein  the outcome of these upcoming elections.  $1 at a time.  $5,000 at a time.  Of course, contributions, in any amounts are possible, from the various fan groups with an average of 2,000 members in each, and would help get the job done. Remember, we'd only have to elect 4 of 6 people, to guarantee a win!  

We've done quite a bit of research lately, and we think we're pretty much good on what the rules and restrictions are.  We aren't experts but the rules are pretty straight forward.  It's not as bad as it seems.  The biggest concern as we understand it will be the financial restraints.  But ANY contributions, of time and/or money, will go a long way to helping us elect the RIGHT people to get us a new building and to get the project off the ground that makes the Islanders and Long Island the envy of the league and the world!  

We'll need help with an assistant treasurer plus other roles.  If ANYBODY has legal and/or accounting assistance they can volunteer, that'd be great, too!  Just an extra pair of eyes, to make sure we don't accidentally mess up!  We'll get more into that as time goes on.  We're going to try and get registered by the early part of February, because the FEC says you have to be on the books for 6 months, and thanks to John McCain's anti-First Amendment, Illegal Campaign Finance Reform Act (thanks John and Ms. O'Connor), there are pre-election restrictions, leaving a small window of opportunity for independent advertising (this is one of the areas where we may need legal help, with clarification).  But we believe it can get done and it can be VERY effective!  
     
In these local elections, it is simple mathematics.  If we could get the 8,000-12,000 people who attend Islanders games to go to the polls, it'll be gigantic! Don't know if any of you have been watching the Primaries, but in some of these cases, the winning candidate is collecting 35,000 votes - that's statewide.  The Coliseum holds 16,234 people.  If every one of them goes to the polls on election day, that's a CONVINCING Argument!!

Here's the websites with the info for starting and running Political Action Committees.  We have to figure out how much we'd be bound to the Federal Regulations and how much we'd be bound to State Regulations.  The FEC says that multi-candidate non-committed political action committees CAN donate to non-federal elections.  To be recognized as a PAC, you have to donate to a minimum of 5 Federal Candidates.  That could mean our 2 Senators and any of the numerous Congressmen.  We really don't have any federal interests at heart.  We're not all that concerned with who goes to Congress although we wonder if they might be able to influence local power.  We want Town, County and State representation.  Those are the influential people, where we're concerned.  We think the focus should be on the State Regulations for a multi-candidate, non-committeed PAC.  
     
Naming is tricky,  because if you choose the wrong name, you can accidentally bind your PAC to a single item, and make it less effective and influential, because of the "association" with or to a particular candidate.  For instance, using a Party name can put restrictions on your donation limits, depending on how you use it.  This is from the FEC:
 

The phrase "Republicans in Congress" does not, by itself, constitute a reference to a clearly identified candidate. However, the use of "Democratic" or "Democrats," or "Republican," "Republicans" or "GOP," or other terms that are variations of the formal name of a political party inherently references a political party, whether or not it also serves other purposes.
 

Try figuring THAT one out.  We've read it about 2 dozen times...  "Republicans in Congress" by itself, is NOT...  however "Republicans" IS...  huh?  So the naming, we would have to be careful with.  We understand the using of "LIGHTHOUSE" in the name, and that makes PERFECT sense.  The problem we're having is figuring out something catchy, but not wordy.  "Mike Must Go" worked, because if 5 people chant it, everyone can hear it.  They can ask, "who's Mike?" and the answer is simple, "Mike's the GM".  That prompts the question, "why?".  Again, simple...  "he made that bad trade".  Everyone agrees, bad trade.  They can easily join in, "Mike Must GO!"  Simplicity.  

This is a bit more complicated.  Like when we chanted "Where's Kate?" at the game on January 19th.  People can say, "Who's Kate?" The answer, "Kate's the Town Supervisor".  Follow up question, "why?".  Answer... not so simple.  I woke up this morning, with my mind racing, thinking of names and chants.  But nothing seemed to satisfy.  LILA PAC (Long Island Lighthouse Alliance).  Lighthouse: Get It Started (L-GIS PAC ...like "LeGISlation" PAC).  Lighthouse: Get 'er Done (Lighthouse GED...  maybe too much like remedial high school diplomas).  Get It Started / Get It Done acronyms...  
 
"Build Our Barn", "Get It Done /Started" and in October /November "We Vote" chants could all be effective.  "Rubber Stamp It!" would be funny, but it might be a little too disconcerting to some people.  But we think our stated goal should be, one: to move forward in developing the Long Island Lighthouse Project; and two: make it accessible to public transportation.  On weekday game nights, people that commute to NYC can park at the Coliseum, train into Manhattan, and train back to the game.  The whole project would be USELESS if no one can get here.  That can't be ignored or forgotten, and therefore, it should be part of our long-term goals.  Short term?  Get the word out to the current politicians that we care and are concerned.  Elect progressive board members, who are looking to advance the cause of developing the Coliseum site into a source of pride and identity for the Long Island community, with a state of the art sports facility venue that is the model and envy of the rest of the world.  Long term?  Electing members of state and local government, who will make sure the conditions are conducive to procuring the development of, as well as access to the Crown Jewel of Nassau County, through public mass transit. No more train to the bus to the cab to the Coliseum, and REVERSE!  Hell, if they want a train spur, a monorail, an elevated train, an underground, whatever!  Just make sure it's accessible.
     
Anyway, without further ado:

• FEC Publications:   http://www.fec.gov/info/publications.shtml#guides
• FEC Non-Committed PAC Guide:   http://www.fec.gov/pdf/nongui.pdf
• FEC Non-Committed PAC Guide Supplement:   http://www.fec.gov/pdf/nongui_supp.pdf
• New York State Board of Elections:   http://www.elections.state.ny.us/portal/page?_pageid=35,8471&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

As far as filing to sponsor a candidate.  That info should be available here: http://www.elections.state.ny.us/portal/page?_pageid=35,1,35_8617&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL    We couldn't find any exact info for 2008.  There is info on the 2007 political calendar, which has all the 2007 dates.  We found something that said the 2008 political calendar should be available in the spring.  So we don't think the info is out yet, but going by the 2007 calendar, it's probably sometime in early June, when we can start collecting signatures to be nominate our own candidate, and we have up until mid-August to file the nominating petition.  We believe we need 3500 signatures, according to the rules for 2007, to get on the ballot.  That should be a piece of cake.  A good crowd at NVMC should solve that problem.

Phew!  That was a mouthful!  These are just some of the talking points we have been discussing.  We could use any advice, guidance, or mentoring on any and all aspects of the development of our portion of the project. 

Email us at info@lilighthouse.com