The political wing of PIANY strengthens your association’s credibility as a serious political force in New York state elections.
Combined with members’ individual participation in the campaigns of their favored candidates, Agents Advocacy Coalition helps support the lawmakers that understand the issues affecting insurance professionals.
About
The Agents Advocacy Coalition, the Official PAC of PIANY, was founded in 1981 as the Professional Insurance Agents of New York Political Action Committee (PIANYPAC). Since its founding, the organization has raised more than $1 million. Agents Advocacy Coalition uses contributions from independent agents to support legislative candidates who support the insurance industry and sponsor or support our legislative priorities.
The Agents Advocacy Coalition is run by a committee of politically attuned and active PIANY members. They set the vision for the organization along with deciding which legislative candidates will receive donations in a given year with the assistance of our PIANY lobbyist.
The organization’s purpose is to add political clout to the representation of insurance agents’ interests in the New York State Legislature. While the PIANY staff and volunteers work directly on legislative and other issues, the Agent’s Advocacy Coalition bolsters the legislative work of our association by helping to increase PIANY’s visibility, strengthen relationships, and support legislators who champion our issues.
Election Information
Below are links you might find helpful during election season. It includes information such as how to register to vote, absentee and early voting, and how to find your polling place.
- Are you registered? – not sure if you are registered to vote in New York. Check your status here.
- Voter registration deadlines – if you want to vote in the New York primaries and general election this year, make sure you enroll in a party (if you want) and are registered in time.
- Register to vote – not registered to vote in New York? Do so here.
- Find your polling place – find out where you are supposed to go to vote on election day
- Change your address – make sure you update your address with the Board of Elections if you move
- Want to enroll in a party? – use this link to enroll in a party or change your current enrollment
- Absentee voting – if you will be absent from your county on the day of the primary or general election, make sure you get your absentee ballot.
- Absentee voting deadlines – make sure you follow the rules so your vote is counted
- Be a poll worker – volunteer to work the polls on election day
- Political calendar – see the full 2022 political calendar here.
- Frequently Asked Questions – click here if you have more questions about voting and elections in New York
Agents Advocacy Coalition Committee and Officers
Chairperson
Fred Holender, CLU, CPCU, ChFC, MSFS
fholender@lawleyinsurance.com
Vice Chairperson
David L. Sidle II, CIC, CPIA
david@sidleinsurance.com
Treasurer
Jason E. Bartow, AAI, CPIA
jason@bartowinsurance.com
Assistant Treasurer
John C. Parsons II, CIC, CPIA, AAI
JCP2.PIANY@ParsonsInsurance.com
Committee Members
Jamie Ferris, CIC, AAI, CPIA
jamie@thewoodoffice.com
Jorge Hernandez
jorge@nfbinsurance.com
John Tomassi, CPCU
jtomassi@ocsurety.com
Richard A. Savino, CIC, CPIA
richs@broadfieldinsurance.com
J. Carlos Shawn Viaña
sviana@marshallsterling.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Agents Advocacy Coalition?
Agents Advocacy Coalition is PIANY’s Political Action Committee. It exists to strengthen PIANY’s credibility as a serious political force in New York state elections. Combined with members’ individual participation in the campaigns of their favored candidates, Agents Advocacy Coalition helps support the lawmakers that understand the issues affecting insurance professionals.
What happened to the PIANYPAC?
PIANYPAC is now Agents Advocacy Coalition. PIANYPAC Committee felt the organization needed an updated name and brand that signified the organization’s values and mission. The name was changed to Agents Advocacy Coalition to represent its focus of supporting the lawmakers that understand the issues affecting insurance professionals.
What is the difference between Agents Advocacy Coalition and PIA National’s PIAPAC?
Agents Advocacy Coalition is a state level political action committee that donates to state legislative candidates. When you donate to Agents Advocacy Coalition your money stays right here in New York to support legislators who work with PIANY, support our industry, and help represent professional agents in public policy debates.
PIA National’s PIAPAC is a national political action committee who donates to candidates for United States Congress from all across the country who are supportive of the insurance industry and issues of importance to PIA members.
How is Agents Advocacy Coalition organized?
Agents Advocacy Coalition is a voluntary political organization comprised of members of the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State Inc. and others engaged in the insurance industry in general, who are interested in the purpose of the organization and who are contributors to the Agents Advocacy Coalition.
What is the purpose of the Agents Advocacy Coalition?
Agents Advocacy Coalition is operated exclusively for the purpose of influencing the selection, nomination or election of individuals to state office. Agents Advocacy Coalition is separate from PIAPAC, PIA National’s federal political action committee. Contributions to Agents Advocacy Coalition stay in your state and are used to support state legislative candidates who understand the issues facing professional insurance agents and our industry more broadly. Contributions to the national PIAPAC are used to support federal legislative candidates and are separate from the state Agents Advocacy Coalition.
What does the Agents Advocacy Coalition do?
Agents Advocacy Coalition supports candidates of all political parties. Its contributions are determined by a strictly bipartisan committee of politically attuned insurance agents. Contributions to Agents Advocacy Coalition can be made via agency or individual check or credit card. (State PACs, unlike federal, can accept support from business entities.)
How is Agents Advocacy Coalition governed?
Management of the business and affairs of Agents Advocacy Coalition is vested in a governing committee consisting of seven to nine PIANY members, plus a PIANY-YIP liaison. Each director exercises his or her independent judgment on behalf of Agents Advocacy Coalition, consistent with its stated purposes. Directors serve without compensation. Agents Advocacy Coalition also has an Executive Committee that consists of the Agents Advocacy Coalition chairperson, the vice chairperson, the treasurer and two additional Agents Advocacy Coalition committee members appointed by the chairperson.
How much has Agents Advocacy Coalition raised?
Since its inception, Agents Advocacy Coalition has raised more than $1.2 million.
How are Agents Advocacy Coalition donations handled?
Contributions to Agents Advocacy Coalition are wholly voluntary and the funds of Agents Advocacy Coalition are never commingled with those of any individual or other organization, nor shall they inure to the private benefit of any person.
The average Agents Advocacy Coalition donation for 2023 was $356.10
Contact
Have questions or would like more information about AAC,
give us a call at (800) 424-4244 or email us at: govaffairs@pia.org
Incentives and Rewards
Club membership
Receives …
AAC CLUB
($1-99)
a thank-you letter, email signature, donor certificate, and listing in the yearly “thank you” magazine ad.
CENTURY CLUB
($100-249)
all AAC Club rewards
+ an AAC lapel pin.
CAPITOL CLUB
($250-499)
all Century Club rewards
+ an invitation to our annual PAC event at conference.
For every $250 above Capitol you give, you receive another ticket to the conference event: e.g., if you give $500, you receive 2 tickets, $750, 3 tickets, etc.
GOLD CLUB
($500-749)
all Capitol Club rewards
+ an AAC coffee mug.
DIAMOND CLUB
($750-999)
all Gold Club rewards
+ a handwritten thank-you note from Jeff Parmenter,
CEO, PIA Management Services.
PLATINUM CLUB
($1,000-2,499)
all Diamond Club rewards
+ an AAC hat, and a plaque to hang in your office.
Any Platinum donor giving between $2,000-2,499 also receives invites to video conferences with political updates from our PIA Northeast staff and PIANY lobbyists.
EXCELSIOR CLUB
($2,500-5,000)
all Platinum Club rewards
+ an AAC polo shirt.
Any Excelsior donor giving between $3,500-$4,999 also receives a call from Jeff Parmenter thanking you for your donation.
Any Excelsior donor giving the state maximum of $5,000 will also receive a special personalized plaque to hang in your office recognizing your donation.