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www.ohiorestaurant.org
Fall 2012 Issue
PUBLIC POLICY
The Ohio Restaurant Association manages its own state political
action committee (PAC). It’s called the Ohio Restaurant PAC
and has been in existence for many years.
What is a PAC? The Ohio Restaurant PAC is a registered entity
with the Ohio Secretary of State that accepts donations from
ORA members and makes contributions to candidates running
for the 132 seats in the Ohio General Assembly.
Who contributes? ORA members, purveyors and even people
who just want to support the restaurant industry support the
Ohio Restaurant PAC. Some simply write a check while others
contribute a small amount through monthly charges to their
credit or debit card. Automatic, monthly contributions work
best for the contributor and for the PAC. The contributor gets
to spread the cost over a longer period and the PAC gets a
reliable, steady stream of financial support.
Where does the money go? To win, candidates simply must have
the financial resources to introduce themselves to the voters
and persuade 50% plus one to vote for them. Campaigns have
become more and more expensive. Races for state senate and
state representative can cost as little as $25,000 and exceed
$1 million. Keep in mind: this is for positions that pay about
$60,000 annually. As citizens we may wish that money and
politics weren’t so closely linked, but it is the reality.
How does our PAC help you and your business? The ultimate
goal of our advocacy program, which includes our PAC, is
to pass laws that help your business grow and defeat those
that harm your business. Our PAC helps fund the campaigns
of candidates that we feel are most likely to vote in the
best interest of Ohio’ job creators. It is said that perception
is reality, especially in politics. It is important that political
leaders perceive the ORA as being a significant “player” in
Ohio politics. Supporting candidates and having a physical
presence at fundraising events puts our association and our
industry out front and strengthens your voice.
When were this year’s PAC fundraising events?
• September 12 – Columbus - Doug Fahrenholz, Chair
• September 13 – Cleveland - Rick Cassara, Chair
• September 18 – Toledo - Roger Parker, Chair
• September 26 – Dayton - Brad Haber, Chair
Anything else? Well, yes… there’s always a disclaimer.
Whenever we talk about political contributions it is important
to understand and comply 100 percent with state law. Your
contribution to the Ohio Restaurant PAC can be personal
or from a business entity organized as a sole proprietorship,
partnership or LLC. No Ohio PAC cannot accept contributions
from a corporate entity. Contributions to the PAC are not
deductible for state or federal income tax purposes.
PAC: Electing Lawmakers Who
Care about Your Business