The money was flying in last fall's historic Wake County school board elections.
As noted in today's article, campaign finance reports showed that more than $340,000 in hard and soft money was spent during the school board campaign. Conservative businessmen Bob Luddy and Art Pope were easily the biggest contributors, providing $38,000 that either went directly to candidates or to the Wake County Republican Party's campaign efforts.
Critics of the new board are saying it confirms their fears that those who are hostile to public education are behind the new board majority. Luddy said it's "laughable" to say he's directing the board while Pope said it's ridiculous for the other side to make him a "right wing boogeyman."
Luddy gave $8,000 to John Tedesco, $4,000 to Debra Goldman, $2,000 to Chris Malone and $4,000 to the Wake Schools Community Alliance. He gave $5,000 to the Wake County Republican Party.
Pope stressed he didn't give any money directly to the WSCA or a school board candidate .He gave $15,015 to the Wake GOP, which used nearly all of its contributions for campaign mailers.
Now it's time to list out the reports.
According to the final report of the Wake Schools Community Alliance, the group raised $50,714.44 and spent $55,282.52. Click here, here and here for prior reports.
According to Rita Rakestraw's final campaign report, she raised $29,634.54 and spent $19,963.84. Her last report shows more union donations from Washington D.C. and a contribution she made to Cathy Truitt's campaign.
Click here, here and here for her prior reports.
According to John Tedesco's final campaign report, he raised $29,201.18 and spent $24,251.06. After Luddy, his second-biggest contributor was the WSCA, which gave him $5,300.
Click here, here and here for Tedesco's prior reports.
According to Karen Simon's final report, she raised $8,160.53 and spent $5,454.58. Click here for Simon's prior report.
According to Debra Goldman's final report, she raised $18,247.16 and spent $14,890.68. One of her last-minute donors was Curt Stangler, who gave $450. He unsuccessfully ran for the District 9 seat in 2005.
Goldman also got $100 from school board chairman Ron Margiotta.
Click here, here and here for Goldman's prior reports.
Click here and here for Take Wake Schools Back's reports.
Click here for the final Wake GOP report.
Ciick here for the final Wake Democratic Party report.
I've previously blogged about the other candidates and groups. Click here for the post with the reports for Chris Malone, Cathy Truitt and Lois Nixon. Click here for the post with the reports for Horace Tart and Deborah Prickett.
Click here for the post with the report for Wake Citizens for Good Government.
