COEUR d'ALENE - A group of North Idaho business people and civic supporters has formed a new political action committee to financially support "reasonable" Republican candidates, the founders announced this week.

Former Kootenai County Republican Central Committee chairman and current member Brad Corkill said the PAC, called North Idaho Political Action Committee, wasn't formed in reaction to recent election results or political groups, but to help "less agenda-driven" candidates get into office.

"This group is not a bunch of ideologues," Corkill said during an interview with The Press. "We don't have an agenda. Our platform will be represented by the candidates we choose to support."

The group filed with the Secretary of State's Office Jan. 31.

Along with Corkill, who owns Whiteman Lumber in Cataldo, the board and founding members carry local name recognition, including Ron Nilson, Jim Pierce, Maggie Lyons, Sandy Patano, Dean Haagenson, Jim Addis, Vaughn Ward, Jim Riley and Laurie Thomas.

Corkill said he expects the PAC to be influential in the May 2012 primaries, having raised $10,000 so far. It hasn't endorsed any candidates yet.

"We just saw a need where people can pool their money and seek out and promote candidates who are reasonable, who can listen and who can understand and solve problems," Corkill said. "We aren't going to ask candidates to sign loyalty oaths or fill out a questionnaire."

Asked if there were current politicians or political groups within the North Idaho GOP who were unreasonable, he said, "I think so."

He declined to elaborate, but said the PAC wasn't formed in response to Rally Right.

Rally Right is a political group in North Idaho which some Republicans, including Kootenai County Reagan Republican Chairman Jeff Ward, believe its leadership is attempting to "dictate policy with un-elected" people by steering the local GOP toward more Constitution Party politics.

It also submits surveys to gauge political beliefs for people to fill out, according to copies of surveys obtained by The Press.

A new political group, meanwhile, called United Conservatives of North Idaho, is hosting its inaugural meeting Monday in Rathdrum for people "frustrated with liberalism taking over in America and the Republican Party drifting away from its Conservative roots," according to an ad in The Press.

Organizers didn't respond to requests for interviews, and several of the listed speakers, including state representatives Vito Barbieri and Dick Harwood, said they didn't know anything about the group or the upcoming meeting. Others, such as Phil Hart, didn't return messages.

Pam Secord, Benewah County Republican chair, said she was invited by "Bob from Rally Right."

She's listed in the ad as a speaker, but didn't know anything about the group, either, and said she was unsure whether she would attend.

Bob Pederson of Rally Right said the new group doesn't have anything to do with Rally Right. Reached by phone Wednesday, Pederson declined to comment further.

Corkill, meanwhile, said part of his PAC's mission will be to inform voters of rule changes regarding voting. This year, the primary election will be closed, meaning only registered Republicans will be allowed to vote. The party will also hold a caucus on March 6 - Super Tuesday - a sort of runoff election for U.S. president with multiple ballots that whittles away last place recipients until one receives 60 percent of the vote, or the top two presidential candidates are standing if nobody receives that super-majority.

Corkill said the group will not focus on municipal, nonpartisan races "yet." He did not want to elaborate on what he means by "yet."

But Corkill was outspoken about the founding members of North Idaho Political Action Committee.

"I'm proud to be associated with the other nine people on the letterhead," he said. "It's a very community-oriented group who gives in a private manner. The last thing any of them will do is tout their accomplishments."

Staff reporter David Cole contributed to this report.