MEC filing sheds light on donations to Galloway rezoning PAC

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In addition to a bevy of endorsements, the Springfield United political action committee in support of the Galloway Village rezoning vote has gathered donations from high-profile organizations and individuals.

According to the PAC's most recent Missouri Ethics Commission filing posted Oct. 28 the largest donor is the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, which last month contributed $10,000 to Springfield United. Leading up to the Nov. 8 election, the Springfield chamber's board in September endorsed the Galloway Village rezoning initiative, according to past reporting.

A chamber statement from Jennifer McClure, vice president of strategic communications, provided to Springfield Business Journal indicates similar contributions have been made in the past.

"The chamber has a long history of contributing to committees affiliated with local ballot issues it has endorsed," the statement reads.

Prior to this election, the chamber most recently contributed $10,000 in 2019 to the Friends of SPS political action committee in support of Springfield Public Schools' $168 million bond proposal, according to the statement.

The chamber does not make contributions to candidate committees, according to the statement.

The Springfield United MEC filing additionally shows a $5,000 donation last month from the Trust Agreement of John P. Stack, aka SRC Holdings Corp. leader Jack Stack, and $2,500 from the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow, the political action committee of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield. The remainder of the donations range from $50 to $1,000.

The Oct. 28 MEC document, as well as a separate Oct. 20 filing, shows total donations to the Springfield United PAC of $24,300.

Springfield voters a week from today will be asked to determine the future of 4.2 acres in Galloway Village on ballot Question 1.

In opposition of the rezoning question, Galloway Village Neighborhood Association filings with the MEC show more than $8,500 in expenses incurred. No donors are listed. The GNVA is listed as a “noncommittee” under committee type with the MEC.

Elevation Enterprises LLC is seeking to build a mixed-use development, called Treadway, with an estimated 95 studio or one, two and three-bedroom apartments and ground-level businesses, all facing the century-old natural destination of Sequiota Park. The controversial rezoning case dates back to 2018, according to past reporting.