Eyeing link between Palin PAC, Suffolk fundraiser
Other Columnists
Last June, Sarah Palinbecame the big draw at a Suffolk County fundraiser for the Independent Group Home Living programs. She was received warmly by more than 1,100 guests who heard her speak about being the mother of a child who, like the programs' clients, has developmental disabilities.
More than $500,000 was raised through the event to benefit the nonprofit, according to the IGHL foundation's director, Frank Lombardi. Palin didn't charge a speaker's fee, organizers noted at the time.
But it has since been disclosed that Palin did collect $53,250 for her political committee, SarahPAC, on her visit. Federal records show top officials and backers of IGHL were predominant among 22 individuals, mostly Long Islanders, who donated $250 to $5,000 each on June 7 to SarahPAC.
Lombardi on Friday underscored the difference between the activities of SarahPAC, to which he and others chose to contribute, and the IGHL dinner. "Her people from Washington did a separate event, at a different location, for her" as it does when she travels elsewhere, he explained. As for IGHL, Lombardi said, "We did very well. . . . We plan to invite her back to next year's gala."
Palin resigned July 3 as Alaska's governor. She's stayed in the spotlight since becoming the first female GOP vice-presidential nominee last year. Her book, "Going Rogue," hits the store shelves Tuesday.
As of June 30, Virginia-based SarahPAC had collected $732,767, disbursed $276,200 and had more than $456,000 on hand.
THE HEAT IS IN: Prosecutors may be back in political fashion. Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie won the governorship in New Jersey. Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice was the only countywide Democrat to win - convincingly, anyway - on Election Day. Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore won while her own county exec was unseated. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo polls well for 2010, as does onetime prosecutor Rudy Giuliani.
LI PLAYERS: Roslyn-based Physicians Reciprocal Insurance, a big-league medical malpractice insurer, has been for some time a significant political contributor. Records show the company has sent at least $114,450 to state and local campaigns since January 2008, and its executives donated tens of thousands more. Like others in the industry, PRI was reported to be facing tough straits earlier this year.
