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Thurman PAC aims to redraw district line
By JIM ROSS, Times Staff Writer U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman has formed a political action committee to which individual and group supporters can donate money. Thurman said she will use the cash primarily to offset expenses related to the contentious legislative redistricting battle. The Republican-controlled Legislature recently redrew boundaries for state and congressional districts. Thurman, D-Dunnellon, has objected to parts of the plan, as have many other Democrats. Though she is not a plaintiff in the legal challenges, Thurman said she, as an obviously involved observer, will incur legal, travel and related expenses as the federal courts and Justice Department resolve the matter. Generally speaking, Thurman could use campaign funds to cover some of those costs. But that would deplete her war chest, which she is hesitant to do in view of a challenge by state Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, who is expected to attract much private and GOP support. Thurman said she sought advice from congressional colleagues who have found themselves in similar positions. Their suggestion: form a leadership PAC. Thus was born the Thurman Leadership Council, or TLC. Thurman is honorary chairwoman. Other federal lawmakers have established similar PACs -- in fact, some of those PACs have contributed money to Thurman's re-election campaign -- but the move was a first for Thurman. Voters first elected her to Congress in November 1992 from the 5th District, which includes Citrus and Hernando counties, west Pasco, and all or part of four other counties. The new district boundaries, if they survive the legal challenges, would take Alachua County and its reliable source of Democratic votes out of Thurman's district. The new lines also would take away west Pasco County, which Thurman has represented for years, and substitute east and central Pasco, which is Brown-Waite territory. Thurman and other Democrats have complained the map making in their area wasn't fair. The legal challenges, now under review by a panel of three federal judges, allege some of the districts are intolerably gerrymandered and/or violate the rights of black and Hispanic voters. The Legislature has hired many attorneys to defend its plans, Thurman noted. But if she wants representation, she needs to arrange it herself. "We've tried to kind of have a level playing field out here," she said. Individuals, corporations, PACs and other groups may donate up to $5,000 per year to a PAC such as Thurman's. As of March 31, her PAC had received about $30,000 from individuals, organizations and other PACs, such as the Physical Therapy Political Action Committee, federal records show. About $3,000 has been spent. According to federal law, the PAC money cannot be spent to directly influence Thurman's federal election. The money must go toward expenses such as the ones Thurman has cited or some other area -- issue advocacy, for example, or voter registration efforts. Some cash could go to support other candidates. For congressional campaigns, individuals may donate up to $1,000 per election. PACs and other larger entities may donate up to $5,000 per election. As of March 31, Thurman's re-election campaign had more than $440,000 cash on hand. "What she's doing is virtually storing up money from the same groups that have contributed to her," Brown-Waite said when told about Thurman's leadership PAC. "This gives them another bite at the apple. "I think it looks and smells like a way to get soft money," she said. "I think it's an indication that Thurman knows that this is a very serious campaign and we are actively, as we speak, getting supporters. It's going to be a long six months."
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