PAC's Activities In Scotts Valley Raise Concerns

SCOTTS VALLEY, CA — The Scotts Valley Fire District is reporting that several local residents have received phone calls from an organization named the "Volunteer Firefighters Association." The organization is soliciting donations, and there is concern the group might be attempting to raise money by naming the Scotts Valley Fire District.

"These calls are not from the Scotts Valley Fire District and we are in no way associated with this organization. The Scotts Valley Fire District is taxpayer funded and does not solicit," the district said on social media.

The Volunteer Firefighters Association is a Political Action Committee (PAC). According to its website, the VFA's mission "is to educate members of Congress about issues important to firefighters and emergency medical personnel and to help elect candidates to office who support those issues."

It is known that some PACs use charitable-sounding names — and mission statements — to get more taxpayer donations, but not all have good intentions. NBC-affiliate News 4 in Oklahoma reported last October on several such PACs. The Volunteer Firefighters Association was named in the story, including a man tied to the group, Zachary Bass, who has been linked to several "nefarious" PACs, News 4 found. Letters obtained by the Scotts Valley Fire District from the Volunteer Firefighters Association were signed by Bass.

The Scotts Valley Fire District reminds residents that if they would like to donate to a volunteer fire agency, do so by contacting that agency directly.