THE WHITE HOUSE

                          Office of the Press Secretary 
                       (Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts) 
_______________________________________________________________________ 
For Immediate Release                                   August 27, 1997 

                   PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES SCOTT E. THOMAS AS 
                COMMISSIONER OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 

President Clinton today announced his intent to nominate Scott E. Thomas as a Member of the Federal Election Commission.

Scott E. Thomas, of the District of Columbia, has served as a Member of the FEC since October, 1986. He was reappointed by President Bush in November, 1991. Mr. Thomas served as Chairman in 1987 and 1993 and as Finance Committee Chairman in 1992 and 1996. Prior to his service as a Commissioner, Mr. Thomas was Executive Assistant to FEC Commissioner Tom Harris from 1983-1986. He worked in the Office of General Counsel at the FEC from 1975-1983, as a Legal Intern, as an Attorney, and as Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement. He has assisted several countries with election administration and reform through International Foundation for Election Systems, including the Soviet Union in 1989, El Salvador in 1994, Russia in 1994, Mexico in 1994, and Paraguay in 1996. Mr. Thomas received a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.

The Federal Election Commission is responsible for the administration of the Federal Election Campaign Act. This includes federal campaign disclosure requirements, contribution and expenditures limitations, and public financing of Presidential nominating conventions and elections. The FEC has exclusive jurisdiction with respect to civil enforcement of the Act's provisions.

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