By Adam Pagnucco.
CASA in Action PAC, a Maryland Super PAC, has begun independent expenditures on behalf of its endorsed candidates. Bethesda Today’s Lou Peck had this story first in an X post yesterday. The PAC’s chair and treasurer are employees of CASA Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that receives noncompetitive contracts from Montgomery County government. In prior posts, I explained how the separate legal structures of the charity, the Super PAC and an associated advocacy organization relate to each other.
In recent filings with the State Board of Elections, CASA in Action PAC reported spending $116,918 from March 27 through April 22. Here is the distribution of that spending by purpose:
Wages, campaign staff: $72,814
Wages, campaign manager: $30,125
Book/brochure advertising: $6,844
Online advertising: $6,068
Graphic design: $1,007
Staff mileage: $60
And here is the distribution of the spending by supported candidate:
Will Jawando, County Executive: $49,106
Izola Shaw, Council District 3: $49,106
Fatmata Barrie, Council At-Large: $4,677
Josie Caballero, Council At-Large: $4,677
Marc Elrich, Council At-Large: $4,677
Laurie-Anne Sayles, Council At-Large: $4,677
At the state level, the Super PAC began the year with $412,219 in the bank. It has not received additional contributions since January. After this spending, it has $295,290 left. Its federal account has additional resources.
Super PACs may raise and spend unlimited sums on independent expenditures but may not coordinate with candidates. CASA entities have a history of independent spending in MoCo, including opposing the 2018 executive candidacy of David Blair and opposing a 2020 ballot measure to abolish at-large county council seats.
CASA in Action PAC will not be the only outside player to get involved in the primaries. More groups are sure to join in, especially now that this Super PAC has spent six digits with perhaps more to come.
The Super PAC’s two recent filings can be downloaded below.