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IowaPolitics.com: Pawlenty registers PAC in Iowa
6/16/2010

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has formed political action committees in Iowa and New Hampshire, two states expected to hold the first 2012 presidential nominating contests, to help him raise money for candidates this year.

Freedom First PAC-Iowa was registered in Iowa last Thursday, June 10, said Charlie Smithson of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. The statement registering the PAC says its purpose is "to support the election of candidates with similar viewpoints." The PAC's chairman is listed as Tim Owens of St. Paul, Minn., while the treasurer is Mark Havlicek of Clive and the parent entity is the federal Freedom First PAC. A checking account for Freedom First PAC - Iowa has been opened at BB&T bank in Alexandria, Va.

While the move is expected to be aimed at this November's election, Pawlenty has also visited Iowa twice in the past year -- once last November to headline the Republican Party of Iowa's fall fundraising dinner at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, and again in April to speak at Iowans for Tax Relief's taxpayer day event -- further raising speculation about him building up towards a bid for the White House in 2012.

During his April visit, Pawlenty said his federal political action committee, Freedom First, would be making endorsements in Iowa races this election cycle.

And in November, Pawlenty said: "My focus is on the 2010 elections, I've been trying to help in Minnesota and across the country, get more Republicans elected through the Republican Governors Association, which I'm vice chair. But also, as time allows, I'm going to try to help other candidates who support Republican conservative principles."

See the form registering the Freedom First PAC in Iowa
Pawlenty's PAC to aid Iowa Republicans


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