Toyota / Lexus PAC

About the PAC

The Toyota/Lexus PAC offers bipartisan support to candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who support public policies that promote growth, encourage innovation and support the auto industry. Toyota team members are allowed to make voluntary, non-tax deductible contributions to fund the PAC. Those who choose to participate can do so through payroll deduction.

 

The Toyota/Lexus PAC Board

Stephen Ciccone

PAC Chairman
Group Vice President

Government and Industry Affairs, TMNA

Cindy Wang

PAC Treasurer
Group Vice President

Global Initiatives, TFS

Susan Elkington

Executive Technical Advisor

Toyota Global and North American Sustainability, TMNA

Rebecca Steele

PAC Secretary
Director

Emerging Technologies Policy, TMNA

Damon Rose

Vice President

Lexus Sales Operations

Phillip Zackler

General Counsel and VP

Operations, TRI

Mark Nazario

Vice President

Guest Experience and Retention, TMS

David Fernandes

President

TMMMS

Jeff Makarewicz

Group Vice President

Technical Resources, TMNA R&D

Kim Cockrell

Chief Human Resources Officer

TMNA

Briana Nelson

Group Vice President

Sales, TFS

Sandra Phillips

Senior Vice President

Corporate Resources, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, TMNA

Tim Hollander

President

TMMI

Ryan Grimm

Group Vice President

Purchasing, TMNA R&D

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Political Action Committee?
PACs were first established in 1944. PACs exist to raise and spend money to support candidates who share a group’s interests, values and goals. Most PACs represent business, labor or other interest groups.
Why does Toyota have a PAC?
Toyota has the Toyota/Lexus PAC so employees can combine their voices and collectively support candidates for Congress who share the company’s interests, values and goals and to ensure Toyota’s voice is heard on issues vital to the company’s prosperity.

The Toyota/Lexus PAC will make bipartisan contributions to political candidates, who support public policies that promote growth, encourage innovation and support the auto industry.
How is money raised to support the PAC?
Executives make voluntary, non-tax deductible contributions, through payroll deduction.

What other companies and organizations have PACs?
Most major U.S. companies and the majority of subsidiaries of large foreign-owned companies have PACs (e.g. Sony, SAP, Siemens). Ford and GM have PACs, as do auto dealers, unions, trial lawyers and numerous other companies and organizations. Toyota is the first foreign-based auto maker to establish a PAC.
Does the PAC support candidates for President of the United States?
No. The PAC only supports candidates running for Congress.
Who determines which candidates to support?
The Toyota/Lexus PAC Board approves all candidates that the PAC supports. It considers a number of factors including whether the company has a constituent connection with the candidate, their support on policies important to the company and their influence on the business climate affecting the auto industry.
What prevents the PAC contributions from going disproportionately to one party?
The By-Laws of the Toyota/Lexus PAC state that contributions will not exceed 60% or be below 40% for either party over a two-year election cycle.
Who is invited to contribute?
Management level within the company’s U.S. operations are asked to voluntarily contribute.
Do Toyota’s Japanese staff contribute to the PAC?
No, foreign nationals may not contribute to any candidate in any federal, state, or local election in the U.S. However, foreign citizens, who have permanent U.S. residency status or possess a green card, are allowed to contribute.