Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge has set up a new political organization, organized under Section 527 of the I.R.S. Code.  

RPG PAC  was established on June 10th with the contact person listed as Pamela Curtis, chief administrative officer at the Ridge Policy Group. Louis Schiazza of Merves, Amon & Barsz LLC, in Media, Pennsylvania, is the treasurer.  

The registration form  stated the organization will, “assist in the election of Federal candidates.”  

The Ridge Policy Group lobbying firm includes Tom Ridge, Mark Campbell and Mark Holman. Ridge was a Republican Representative in Congress from 1983-1995, Governor of Pennsylvania from 1995-2001, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security from 2001-2013, and the first Secretary of Homeland Security from 2003-2005. Both Campbell and Holman had served as Ridge’s chief of staff.  

The Ridge Policy Group reported the following income from lobbying during the first quarter of 2014: Geo Group (correctional and detention management) $50,000; Marcellus Shale Coalition (natural gas development) $30,000; Ben Franklin Technology Partners $30,000; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania $30,000; Pong Research Corp. $30,000; Mercyhurst College $20,000; Univ. City Science Center $20,000; Impact Services Corp. $10,000; National Association of State Head Injury Administrators $10,000; Independence Blue Cross Family of Companies $10,000; among others.  

Mercyhurst College is fundraising for expenses related to the Ridge Collection, which includes the papers of Tom Ridge relating to homeland security matters.