The super PAC that formed to support the re-election bid of Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., has reported receiving its first contribution.

Robert J. Kabel of Washington, D.C., gave $10,000 to Indiana Values SuperPAC in December, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission covering 2011. It was the only donation listed by the super political action committee, which organized in mid-December.

Super PACs are allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money for or against political candidates, but they must operate independently of candidates.

Andy Klingenstein, treasurer of Indiana Values SuperPAC, said Thursday that Kabel is "part of the kitchen Cabinet" -- a group of former Lugar aides like himself who formed the super PAC to boost their old boss, a senator since 1977.

Kabel was legislative director for Lugar in the early 1980s, worked in President Reagan's White House and is now an attorney for Faegre Baker Daniels in Washington.

He was chairman of Log Cabin Republicans, a national organization of gay Republicans, in the 1990s. Since 2004, he has been chairman of the District of Columbia Republican Party and was the first openly gay chairman of a state GOP, according to Log Cabin Republicans.

Indiana Values SuperPAC listed $17,000 in debts and obligations in its FEC report for the cost of polling services by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Va.

Lugar is challenged in the May 8 GOP primary election by second-term state Treasurer Robert Mourdock.

bfrancisco@jg.net