Lawrence art hub Wonder Fair forms a PAC for moderate Kansas candidates

All of a sudden, Kansas is in play. Gov. Sam Brownback’s heedless devotion to discredited economic theories has resulted in massive revenue shortfalls, credit downgrades, slashed school budgets, no increase in job growth, and tax cuts for the rich. These grim realities threaten to cost Republicans not only the governor’s office but also the U.S. Senate seat that Pat Roberts has occupied for the past 18 years. Turns out, Kansans don’t love being lab rats for extreme supply-side tax policy.

It’s possible that Brownback and Roberts will fight off their respective challengers, Democrat Paul Davis and independent Greg Orman. But a week out from the election, both races are polling tight, and money is still pouring in.

A year ago, state Rep. John Wilson (D-Lawrence) approached Meredith Moore, the engine that powers Lawrence print shop and art gallery Wonder Fair, about curating an art show as a fundraiser. The timing didn’t work out, but it got Moore thinking about how Wonder Fair could play a part in helping elect progressive and moderate Kansas candidates. When Kansas’ political winds began to shift this year, Moore started thinking harder.

“I’m an incredible Googler,” Moore tells The Pitch. “So I just started researching what normal citizens can do to raise money for political campaigns. And the IRS does a really crackerjack job of making this stuff available online. I eventually determined that a PAC [political action committee] was a totally viable option and required far less of a political-science background than should probably be legal.”

The result of Moore’s research is the Fine Print PAC, a tax-free 527 organization committed to helping, she says, “rebuild a more equal, fair and compassionate Kansas.”

How it works: Lawrence artist Patrick Giroux designed a limited-edition, 18-inch-by-24-inch screen print titled “Restore Kansas.” Blue Collar Press printed 100 of them. For a $50 donation to the Fine Print PAC, a signed, numbered print can be yours. The proceeds go to candidates in these close Kansas elections.

“We called it the Fine Print PAC because, obviously, we’re making these fine prints to try to bring about progress in our government,” Moore says. “But I also like that there’s a subtler interpretation about the necessity of reading the fine print. I think a lot of bad policies in Kansas rely on ordinary people not reading the fine print.”

Moore says 20 copies have sold. She has already written a $1,000 check from Fine Print PAC’s newly opened bank account to the Paul Davis campaign.

“Every $500 or so going forward, I’ll cut another check to a different campaign — Orman or Jean Schodorf, who’s challenging Kris Kobach for secretary of state,” Moore says. “We’ll just be playing it by ear as the election nears, looking at poll numbers and asking our friends who work on various campaigns where the money would be most beneficial. If they’re saying a get-out-the-vote effort is a better place to put our money than a candidate, we’ll do that.” (Moore plans to keep the Fine Print PAC alive for the 2016 presidential election.)

Wilson — who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from the University of Kansas and says if he could start a second career, it would be letterpress — approves of “Restore Kansas.”

“Overtly political designs are usually not very well done,” he tells The Pitch. “I really like that theirs is something that people would want to display in their homes outside of the context of the election. And also that it is going toward getting moderate, reasonable people elected in Kansas.”

Wilson is up for re-election in Kansas’ 10th District next week. Is he waiting on a check from the Fine Print PAC?

“I certainly would appreciate any support that comes my way,” he says. “But I think they should probably focus on the governor’s race. And maybe the Kobach race, too.”