Governmental Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2011
For more information please contact:
Craig Cerreta, 941-993-2502
LAKEWOOD RANCH BUSINESS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS
Endorsements made by LWRBA Board of Directors
The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance is pleased to announce the first of many political endorsements.
Tom Knight – Sarasota County Sheriff
Brad SteubeundefinedManatee County Sheriff
Ed BrodskyundefinedState Attorney, 12th Judicial Circuit
Larry EgerundefinedPublic Defender, 12th Judicial Circuit
Vanessa Baugh – Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, District 5
The LWRBA is the voice of nearly 500 businesses representing several thousand employees in and around Lakewood Ranch. A critical part of the Alliance mission is to make a difference in the community by interviewing, evaluating, and recommending pro-business political candidates.
The Business Alliance Governmental Affairs Committee will continue its interview and endorsement process in the upcoming year with candidates on the local and state level. The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance has a diverse membership that encompasses varied political views and parties. The common thread is that the organization promotes the business interests of entrepreneurs in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
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The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance is a group of members striving to provide an organized voice to assist in influencing the different county, city and governmental organizations to improve the Lakewood Ranch community and surrounding region. The LWRBA mission is to provide a vehicle to facilitate visibility and growth for our businesses, fostering economic development and the appropriate infrastructure to accompany this growth.
Hello Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Members! We are pleased to announce the formation of the LWRBA CCE, or Committee of Continuous Existence, which will allow us to raise money for pro-business political candidates and causes. Before we start raising money for the CCE, which will be called, ‘Pro Business Ranch,’ we need your input forming our legislative agenda for 2012.
Please take a few minutes out of your day to provide us with valuable information about what issues are important to you. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X62MMZG
GAC Q&A: What is a CCE?
Background: The role of the LWRBA Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is to:
- •· Serve as the primary point of contact between LWRBA and our political leaders.
- •· Serve to identify issues of importance to LWRBA and it members and to translate these into an effective agenda for political action.
- •· Serve to mobilize our membership to support our goals and candidates who support the LWRBA goals
The LWRBA is in fact an interest group and we should proudly proclaim that fact. As such, the Governmental Affairs Committee will represent the interests of LWRBA and its members. The credibility of LWRBA and the GAC comes for the fact that they represent the interests of hundreds of committed members who each and every day add value to the community. Only the candidates that support the LWRBA, its mission and its members will be supported. To accomplish the objectives of the GAC a Committee of Continuous Existence (CCE) has been created under the laws of the State of Florida to help accomplish these goals.
Q: What is a Committee of Continuous Existence (CCE)?
A: A committee of continuous existence means any group, organization, association, or other such entity which is certified pursuant to the provisions of Section 106.04, F.S.
In order to qualify as a committee of continuous existence, a group, organization, association, or other entity that is involved in making contributions to candidates, political committees, or political parties, shall meet the following criteria:
1. It shall be organized and operated in accordance with a written charter or set of bylaws which contains procedures for the election of officers and directors and which clearly defines membership in the organization; and
2. At least 25% of the income of such organization, excluding interest, must be derived from dues or assessments payable on a regular basis by its membership pursuant to provisions contained in the charter or bylaws.
Q: What can a CCE Do?
A: 1. Contribute to candidates, political committees, other committees of continuous existence, electioneering communication organizations or political parties. No funds of a committee of continuous existence shall be expended on behalf of a candidate, except by means of a contribution made through the duly appointed campaign treasurer of the candidate.
2. Contribute to political committees supporting or opposing issues, but only up to 25% of its aggregate income, as reflected in the annual report for the previous year.
Q: What can a CCE not do:
1. Make independent expenditures.
2. Make electioneering communications.
3. Support or oppose issues without first registering as a political committee (PC).
Q: How do the LWRBA members become involved in the CCE?
A: Members through the process of dues payment on and annual basis have the opportunity to opt out of a contribution to the CCE when the annual dues are paid. In this way each member becomes a participant and involved in the Governmental Affairs of the LWRBA.
Q: Are any of our membership dues going to the CCE?
A: No! Only those monies designated for the CCE will be available to be distributed by the CCE
Q: How will the monies be used in the CCE?
A: The GAC will make recommendations to the Board of Directors as to candidates and issues to support and the amounts to be contributed while the Board of Directors will make the final determination as to the distribution of any funds
Example: a year ago when Amendment #4 was a major issue, the GAC recommended to the Board of Directors to oppose Amendment #4, to which the Board agreed. Because a CCE was not in existence at the time the only way for individual members to contribute was to do so directly to the Amendment #4 committee. If we had a CCE at that time the funds could have been designated to assist in defeating this issue.
Q: Can a CCE contribute to another CCE of another organization?
A: Yes! By doing so the cumulative effect of those monies can serve to impact a candidate and/or an issue in a more dramatic manner
Q: If an individual/company that does not want to support a particular candidate or issue can an individual/company ask not to have their monies go to that candidate/issue?
A: No, as the monies given to a candidate/issue come from the CCE not from a particular individual/company. A specific name will not be given for monies distributed to either a candidate/issue other than that of the CCE
Q: How much can a company/individual contribute to the CCE?
A: There are no limits on the amount that a company/individual can give to the CCE. We will be asking for a minimum of $25.00 from our members in the first year for which they can opt out if they so desire and/or they can give more to the CCE.
