SUMMARY: Raby’s nephew has been listed as chairman and treasurer of the PACs since early March.
ANALYSIS: Huntsville Democrat Steve Raby said he no longer operates fours PACs that received contributions from lobbyists, corporations, unions, and gambling interests.
Questions about whether Raby still controls the PACs came up when reporters investigated which candidates and PACs got contributions from lobbyists indicted in a federal bingo probe. The probe, which began in February 2009,Êinvestigated actions connected with attempts to pass bingo-related legislation in the 2009 and 2010 sessions of the Legislature. Eleven people, including four state legislators, were arrested in that probe in early October.
In past years, Raby was the chairman and treasurer of Tennessee Valley Citizens for Economic Development, Senate Majority PAC, The Real Democrat PAC and Progress for Alabama PAC. This year, according to records from the Secretary of State’s office, another Raby has those duties.
W. Bryant Raby, Steve Raby’s nephew, signed political action committee update forms that reached the Secretary of State’s office on March 4. On the forms, dated March 1, Bryant Raby signed verification that he is chairperson and treasurer for all four PACs.
Elections Manager Janice McDonald, at the Secretary of State’s office said the Alabama Fair Campaign Practices Act lists duties for the treasurer who records a PAC’s financial transactions and checks their accuracy. The treasurer also has responsibility for filing required campaign finance report forms and any PAC changes with the state.
McDonald said the state does not specify who must sign checks the PACs contribute, but Steve Raby said he gave up financial control at the same time he gave up general oversight.
The four PACs received contributions from some of the lobbyists associated with the bingo probe, and also gave to candidates associated with the probe. The PACs also received contributions from other sources and gave to candidates not associated with the probe. Contributions came from labor unions, the Alabama Education Association, elected officials, businesses and other candidates. Both Democratic and Republican candidates received contributions through the PACs, but the majority of recipients were Democrats.
