It didn’t start in Athens or Limestone County. It started with a headline. A recent 1819 News article revealed how North Alabama PAC has poured more than $300,000 into campaigns across Alabama, showing just how concentrated, and powerful, political influence can become.

North Alabama PAC is led by Steve Raby, a long-time Alabama political operative, lobbyist, and consultant with deep connections across state politics. Like many PACs, it serves as a central hub. Businesses and interest groups from across the state don’t always donate directly to individual candidates. Instead, they funnel money into a PAC like this one, which then distributes those funds strategically across multiple races.

It’s not random. It’s coordinated.

That means when you see donations coming from the North Alabama PAC, you’re not just looking at one source. You’re looking at a network of businesses and interests, all pooling resources to expand their reach and influence.

Because when one PAC can spread that level of money across the state, it doesn’t stay in Montgomery. It reaches into local races, local decisions, and local priorities. The same kind of influence shaping statewide outcomes can quietly shape what happens right here in Athens and Limestone County.

Not one race.
Not one party.
An entire network.

That’s how modern political influence works.

PACs don’t just support candidates.
They invest across the board to make sure they have a seat at the table no matter who wins.

So, when we started looking locally, the question wasn’t if it was happening here. It was how much.

What Is a PAC, Exactly?

A Political Action Committee, or PAC, is a group created to raise and spend money to influence elections. They are legally allowed to donate to candidates and play a major role in modern campaigns. In Alabama, there are no limits on how much a PAC can give.

How Businesses Use PACs

PACs don’t operate in a vacuum. They’re often funded by businesses, industries, or interest groups that pool money together to support candidates who align with their goals. Instead of a company writing checks directly across multiple races, a PAC allows them to combine resources and spread contributions strategically. The result is influence that reaches across offices, across elections, and across outcomes.

The Receipts

From that same North Alabama PAC, money flowed into multiple local races. These aren’t rumors or estimates. This information is publicly available through the Alabama Secretary of State’s campaign finance database, where contribution reports are filed and accessible to anyone willing to look.

Mayor
• Ronnie Marks - $5,000