Two Association PACs Host Fundraiser for Senator

The American Nursery & Landscape Association PAC and the Society of American Florists PAC hosted a fundraiser Aug. 27 for Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman. Coleman is a centrist Republican who has supported the green industry’s Farm Bill efforts, the Floriculture & Nursery Research Initiative, and, most importantly, been a voice of reason on the immigration reform effort.  Industry leaders believe that if measures such as AgJOBS and the H-2B return worker exemption are to happen, it will take Senators like Coleman to bridge the gap between various interests.

This was the first major green industry political fundraiser ever held in Minnesota and it proved to be a success, exceeding the goal of $25,000. Approximately 50 people attended the event held at Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul. In addition to Bailey’s, hosts were Roger and Marie Landsburg, Landsburg Landscape Nursery; Dean and Jill Engelmann, Tangletown Gardens; Tim Malooly, Irrigation Consultants & Control Inc., and Denny McNamara, Hoffman & McNamara Co.

In addition to the major contributions from ANLA-PAC and SAF-PAC, other members of the green industry participated. The Professional Landcare Network PAC and the Tree Care Industry Association PAC both made significant contributions. Critical local volunteer leaders from the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association spanned four national associations: Irrigation Association member Tim Malooly, Irrigation Consultants & Control; ANLA member Joe Bailey, Bailey Nurseries Inc.; PLANET member Scott Frampton, Landscape Renovations; and TCIA member Steve Sylvester, S&S Tree Specialists.  SAF and OFA members were also in attendance, for a total of six national green industry associations taking part.

While the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association did not play a direct role in the event, MNLA Executive Director Bob Fitch said, “This fundraiser was a great example of how it is possible for the various organizations within the green industry to successfully pull together for a common cause.  This wasn’t about personal or partisan politics.  It was about the need for the green industry to be on the radar screen of a centrist U.S. senator who will hold sway on many important votes for us in the years to come.”