Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board and the Santa Monica College board of trustees — each deemed crucial to the future of local education — have raised more than $84,000, with Louise Jaffe pulling in the bulk of the contributions, with $32,839, according to the latest campaign disclosure statements filed with the City Clerk’s Office last week.
Thursday, Oct. 5, marked the first time candidates had to file campaign disclosure statements with the City Clerk. The statements detail campaign contributions received and expenditures made from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30.
The candidate with the most money, while not guaranteed victory, stands a better chance of reaching voters via expensive mailers, campaign literature and community events. An average mailer can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000, depending on how detailed it is and the sheer number of voters to whom it is sent.
The closest competitor to Jaffe, a candidate for the SMC board, is former City Councilman and Santa Monica Superior Court Judge David Finkel, with $13,269, followed by Thomas Donner, SMC’s former financial guru, with $13,030.
Incumbent Nancy Greenstein, the lone trustee running for re-election, has received just $3,550.
No information was available for candidates Susanna Bracke and Andrew Walzer. The City Clerk has yet to receive any statements from them, however, they could have filed just before last Thursday’s deadline.
A candidate can opt to run a campaign without raising funds, however, if they receive or spend more than $1,000, they are then required to file a campaign disclosure statement, a spokesperson for the City Clerk’s Office said. If not, they can be subject to fines.
In the race to fill four seats on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified school board, incumbent Oscar de la Torre leads the pack in fundraising with $7,983 to date. Challenger Kelly Pye, a former advertising representative with the Santa Monica Outlook, is a close second with $6,864, followed by incumbents Emily Bloomfield ($5,325) and Shane McLoud ($1,965).
No information was available for Barry Snell or Sidonie Smith, who is rumored to have dropped out of the race, although her name will still appear on the ballot. Smith could not be reached for comment.
Candidates received the majority of their contributions from residents, including those who are heavily involved in education, such as faculty with the school district and SMC. Most of the contributions were around $100. Much of the money has been used to pay for campaign literature, office supplies and postage for mailers.
In the all-important “cash balance” category, Jaffe, who accepted a loan of $6,000, has $18,213 available, followed by Finkel, with $9,653, Greenstein ($8,083) and Donner ($6,286), who loaned himself $5,600.
In the school board race, de la Torre has $5,921 available, followed by Pye ($4,791), who loaned herself $2,500, Bloomfield ($3,684) and McLoud ($1,899).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 10, 2006. Read the original PDF.