Those firms include some of the largest in the industry as well as small, so-called niche firms. The list includes TA Associates, whose chairman C. Kevin Landry gave $17,100 to Romney’s presidential campaign and Free and Strong America political action committees. Another firm is SCF Partners, whose founder L.E. Simmons and managing directors Anthony F. DeLuca and David C. Baldwin gave $65,200
The list also includes firms whose top executives are big-money contributors to the Restore Our Future super PAC, which supports Romney for president but is not affiliated with his campaign. Bain Capital managing director Paul Edgerley gave $500,000 to Restore Our Future. Another managing director, Stephen Zide, gave $250,000. A partner at TPG Capital, Richard W. Boyce, gave $100,000, and at H.I.G. Capital, co-founding partner Anthony Tamer gave $50,000.
Super PACs, a new phenomenon made possible by a recent Supreme Court ruling, are permitted to solicit contributions of unlimited size.
None of the firms or executives commented for this story. TPG, Bain Capital, TA Associates, and their executives declined, while the others did not respond to messages.
The Romney campaign said Zwick’s private equity fund-raising and political fund-raising are separate. During the same period he raised money for Solamere, Zwick also was raising funds for Romney’s Free and Strong America PACs.
“Free and Strong America PAC, the Romney for President campaign and Mitt Romney have followed the highest ethical standards and have operated squarely within the bounds of FEC rules in all circumstances,’’ Gitcho, the campaign spokeswoman, said.
Solamere said there was a strong division between Romney’s political operation and the firm.
“Our investors come from a variety of political persuasions, and there is absolutely no connection between the personal decisions they may make to support certain candidates and the premier funds and companies that were carefully selected for our portfolio,’’ the company said in a statement. Solamere would not identify the investors of varied political persuasions it was citing.
Hess, of the Brookings Institution, said the intertwining of Solamere and the Romney network should be viewed “in a context of how society works at that level.
“At a lower level, you’re a police captain and what do you do for your friends’ sons?’’ he said. “The same game is played.’’
Michael Kranish of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Donovan Slack can be reached at dslack@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @donovanslack.
