Three new PACs to promote Council candidates

In addition to the multitude of City Council candidates looking for funds for their campaigns, there are now three local political action committees that will be raising and spending money to support various candidates. Leading the Vibrant Austin political action committee is Skyler Korgel, who told the Austin Monitor that his PAC is “pro housing.” He is assisted by Julio Salinas and Luis Osta Lugo. Korgel said Wednesday that his committee is not ready to announce who they will be supporting. However, he said they will not be involved in the mayoral race. According to a form filed with the city clerk, the Vibrant Austin PAC “is not established or controlled by a candidate or an officeholder …” A second political action committee filed paperwork last month designating Tanya Payne as its treasurer. She could not be reached for comment. The third committee, called Austin Progress PAC, will specifically be raising and spending money in support of mayoral candidate Doug Greco. The campaign treasurer for this PAC is Max Langert. He did not return a call requesting comment. However, the PAC could provide a way for Greco’s family and friends who do not live in Austin to support his campaign without violating the city’s campaign finance regulations. Complaints have been filed against both Greco and Mayor Kirk Watson because they received more than the allowed amount of contributions from people living outside the city. The Ethics Review Commission is scheduled to hold a preliminary hearing on those complaints at its next meeting on Sept. 25. Greco has complained that the rules disadvantage candidates who have not lived in Austin for a long time and those who have relatives in other cities.