Submitted by Rick Anglickis and Laurie Jerriey

Fort Myers business leaders for many years have influenced politicians through their participation in an organization known as Business People United for Political Action (BUPAC). Every two years, during the political season, they meet every so often and invite candidates to speak, asking them questions, and determining which candidates would best serve the business community.

They then invite the media, vote on candidates to support, and present them with their “Official BUPAC” endorsement and a check. They are really active during the political season and get a great deal of news coverage for BUPAC. But more importantly, they get the attention and ear of the politicians that represent them.

The time has come for the business community and leaders of Lehigh Acres to step up and form our own United Political Stick. This is not an organization of and for Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Tea Party or any other political party members, but rather an organization of community and business leaders who are concerned about good government, and good representation for Lehigh Acres.

We are looking in our community for interest people to become a charter voting member of Lehigh Acres First, a federally registered political committee. It has been formed as a 527 tax-exempt organization in accordance with the United States tax code, and is created primarily to influence the nomination or election of candidates for public office.

This type of organization has been selected because it is not regulated by either federal nor state election commissions, and are not subject to the same reporting requirements and contribution limits as ordinary political action committees. Being exempt of federal and state campaign laws allows this type of committee to collect unlimited donations known as “soft money” from corporations, unions, and individuals without restrictions, limits and disclosures.

Pursuant to that end, we are planning our first political “Friend Rai$er” to benefit Matt Caldwell, Tammy Hall, John Manning, Brian Bigelow and Lizbeth Benacquisto. The event will be in the form of an old-fashioned ice cream social. Complete with music, ice cream and soft drinks. It will be held on the front lawn of the Lehigh Regional Medical Center on Sunday October 24 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

We would like to have members of our community serve as a member of the host committee sponsoring this event. It would be the first Lehigh Acres First event, and we would use it as a springboard to launch our committee. Each of us would contribute $100 and then contact others to become members of Lehigh Acres First, soliciting their support of our committee and this specific “Friend Rai$er.” The committee would pay all the bills, and then present to each candidate a check with the balance of the funds raised.

Those interested can make out their checks payable to Lehigh Acres first, and get them to Laurie Jerriey at Preferred Community Bank (2511 lee Blvd.) where we have opened up an account. We would need checks by Wednesday of this next week so as to list those donors as a member of the host committee.

After this first fundraiser, we’ll get together and elect permanent officers and plan our next event.

Rick A. Anglickis, temporary chairman

Laurie Jeffiey, temporary secretary and treasurer

LEHIGH ACRES FIRST