Sierra Club Creates Delaware Environmental Political Action Committee

The Sierra Club in Delaware is taking a more active role in electoral politics by establishing a political action committee:

For Immediate Release
Date: April 2, 2008
Sierra Club sets up Delaware Environmental Political Action Committee

Wilmington, Delaware – The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club announced today that it has registered the Delaware Environmental PAC with the state Board of Elections and is looking forward to ensuring that environmental issues – from clean air and energy to land use, global warming and clean water – are part of the discussion as the coming election cycle heats up in Delaware.
“Sierra Club members are interested in electing candidates to state and local offices who seek to understand and address Delaware’s environmental concerns,” said Jay Cooperson, Delaware chapter chair. “We want to make that sure the candidates running for office next fall are aware of the issues and will work to protect the health of our natural and human communities once they are elected to office.”
The chapter’s plans include compiling a candidate’s scorecard, hosting a candidate forum as well as considering endorsements in state level races and actively working to elect pro-environment candidates. The chapter’s political committee has started work on these projects and welcomes all Sierra Club members, including new ones, to join the effort.
Contributions to the Delaware Environmental Political Action Committee are welcome. Checks can be made out to “Delaware Environmental PAC” and sent to Delaware Environmental PAC, c/o Sierra Club Delaware Chapter, 100 West 10th Street, Suite 1107, Wilmington, DE 19801.
Contributions or gifts to Delaware Environmental PAC are not tax-deductible.
The Sierra Club, founded in 1892, is the nation’s oldest grass-roots environmental organization. The Club is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the natural and human environment. The Club’s purpose is: “To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environments.”

By way of disclosure, I recently joined the Sierra Club political committee.
The Sierra Club has set modest goals for the PAC for 2008, but if the support is there it could have a greater effect. Even small donations can be meaningful. I can have a modest impact on a campaign by writing a check to the candidate of my choice. The same amount, combined with similar donations from like-minded voters, can have a more noticeable impact on a candidate.
The more support the PAC generates, the more visible it can be in promoting an environmental agenda this year.