Sondra Wilson Requests Constitutional Review of Iowa Code § 68A.503(3)
This page is continued from Sondra challenges State of Iowa’s “misapplied” campaign finance regulation and declares Wild Willpower PAC as first “Civil PAC” in Iowa.
Sent to Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (August 12, 3:32 pm):
Request for Advisory Opinion: Constitutional Review of Iowa Code § 68A.503(3)
To the Members of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board,
I am formally requesting an Advisory Opinion regarding the application of Iowa Code § 68A.503(3), which prohibits candidates from serving as officers of a political action committee. I am the founder and Executive Director of Wild Willpower PAC—a registered public-benefit organization and the first “Civil PAC” in the nation. I am also an independent candidate for Iowa Governor in 2026.
This request is not a petition for permission. It is a demand for clarity, rigor, and constitutional fidelity. I am invoking my right under Iowa law to seek an Advisory Opinion, and I expect the Board to issue one following thorough legal review—not based on political sentiment, but on statutory interpretation and constitutional precedent.
Wild Willpower PAC is not a typical campaign committee. It is a civic infrastructure platform that predates my candidacy and operates independently of my campaign. All contributions are transparently reported and kept separate from my candidate committee, Sondra Wilson for Iowa Governor. The PAC supports public-benefit initiatives, including the Gardens Across Iowa™ model and the Civilian Restoration Corps™—not electoral activity.
Unlike traditional PACs formed by parties, corporations, or lobbying interests, Wild Willpower PAC was designed as a “Civil PAC”—a new category of political organization that uses campaign finance law to fund direct action for public benefit. Our mission is to help people live sustainably, support Indigenous teachers, and advance human rights. We operate transparently, ethically, and in full compliance with federal and state law. We have formally requested recognition of this designation from the Board.
Iowa Code § 68A.503(3) must be interpreted in light of both the Iowa Constitution and binding federal precedent. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) that financial contributions to political causes are protected speech under the First Amendment. In Citizens United v. FEC (2010), the Court held that political speech cannot be suppressed based on the speaker’s identity—including corporate entities and PACs. These rulings make clear that political advocacy, including through PACs, is constitutionally protected—even when the speaker is a candidate.
Moreover, the Iowa Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to seek public office. It does not condition that right on dismantling civic infrastructure or relinquishing stewardship of public-benefit organizations. To enforce § 68A.503(3) against me under these circumstances would constitute an unconstitutional restraint on political expression and equal protection.
I also note that the Iowa Legislature’s removal of transgender Iowans from the Iowa Civil Rights Act is currently cited in the federal case Wilson et al v. Trump et al as a violation of 18 U.S. Code § 241, the federal statute titled Conspiracy Against Rights. This statute—originally enacted to combat Ku Klux Klan violence—makes it a federal crime for “two or more persons [to] conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured… by the Constitution or laws of the United States.”
If government officials may violate a federal anti-KKK statute without consequence, while I am scrutinized for maintaining lawful stewardship of a civic PAC, then the issue before this Board is not merely legal—it is cultural. It reflects a dangerous hypocrisy that undermines the rule of law and the integrity of our democratic institutions.
As a natural born Citizen of Iowa, I should not be reduced under despotism and given no choice but to “suffer or leave.” I am therefore asserting my constitutional right to reform in accordance with Article I, Section 2 of the Iowa Constitution, which affirms that “all political power is inherent in the people,” and with American Constitutional Common Law, which protects the right of citizens to resist tyranny through lawful means.
This reform is being carried out through a PAC—not for personal enrichment, but for public benefit. I have every intent to hand off officership once I identify individuals who are trustworthy and capable of carrying forward Wild Willpower PAC’s mission with integrity. Until then, I must remain its steward to ensure its lawful operation and protect its founding vision.
I am not asking the Board to weigh the merit of my political platform. I am asking for a formal Advisory Opinion on whether Iowa Code § 68A.503(3) prohibits me from continuing to serve as an officer of Wild Willpower PAC while running for office, given the constitutional protections and factual distinctions outlined above.
I expect this request to be reviewed with the seriousness it demands. The outcome will not only affect my candidacy—it will set precedent for how Iowa treats independent reformers, marginalized citizens, and those who build civic infrastructure outside traditional party systems.
Please confirm receipt of this request and advise on the timeline for review and issuance of the Advisory Opinion.
Respectfully,
Sondra Wilson
Independent Candidate for Iowa Governor 2026
Founder & Executive Director, Wild Willpower PAC
Lead Plaintiff, Wilson et al v. Trump et al
Update: Ethics Board Refuses to Issue Formal Advisory Opinion
Their response (August 14, 1:49 pm):
Sondra Wilson, Iowa Code section 68A.303(5) is clear and not ambiguous as it relates to your request for an advisory opinion. If you would like the law to be changed, that is the role of the legislature to determine rather than the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
— Erika Eckley, Executive Director and Legal Counsel
My reply (August 15, 12:02 pm):
Thank you for your response. I am formally requesting that the Board issue a written Advisory Opinion pursuant to Iowa Code § 68B.32A(12), as I am entitled to under law. I ask that the Board address the constitutional concerns and factual distinctions outlined in my original request. Please advise on the timeline for issuance of the formal opinion.
— Sondra Wilson, Independent Candidate for Iowa Governor
Iowa Code § 68B.32A(12): Duties of the Board“Issue advisory opinions interpreting the application of this chapter and chapter 68A to any person who makes a request for an advisory opinion. Opinions issued shall be based upon the facts provided by the person requesting the opinion. The board shall issue opinions within sixty days of receipt of the request. Opinions issued shall be made available to the public and shall be issued to the person making the request.”
What This MeansI have a legal right to request an Advisory Opinion.
– The Board is required to interpret the law, not just restate it.
– They must base their opinion on the facts I provided.
– They must issue the opinion within 60 days
– The opinion must be public and sent to me directly.
Erika Eckley’s email did not fulfill these statutory duties. It is not a formal opinion. It does not interpret the law in light of the facts. It does not address the constitutional concerns I raised.
I will keep the public updated as this moves forward.
