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Incumbent candidates in the school board election for Indianapolis Public Schools have far outraised their challengers in campaign cash and other support for the Nov. 8 election, according to finance reports filed with the county election board.
At-large candidate Sam Odel brought in the most donations at $37,011. He is running for reelection against two other candidates who have raised a combined total of around $5,000.
Odel’s largest direct and in-kind donations came from: Indianapolis philanthropist Al Hubbard ($5,000); MIBOR Realtors PAC ($4,223.60): and Indiana Chamber of Commerce PAC ($3,000).
First-time candidate Venita J. Moore in District 2 raised the second highest amount with $23,448.14. Her biggest direct and in-kind donations were: Indiana Chamber of Commerce PAC ($5,000), MIBOR Realtors PAC ($2,462.80) and $2,000 from Reid Litwack and Liz Lahr, Litwack is a former board president at charter school KIPP Indianapolis and owner of construction supply company Steel House.
In total, the IPS race has brought in just more than $105,000 for eight candidates. As of Monday night, two candidates had yet to file their finance reports with the Marion County Election Board. The deadline was Friday.
In-state donors are making nearly all the large and small donations for the candidates, unlike in 2012 when the race saw three winning candidates raise a collective $200,000, in part through large out-of-state contributions.
Here is a breakdown by district race:
At-large
Samuel L. Odle, incumbent - $37,011.23
Jim Grim - $4,805
Elizabeth M. Gore - $250
District 1
Michael O'Connor, incumbent - $22,442.50
Christine M. Prince - $50
District 2
Venita J. Moore - $23,448.14
Ramon L. Batts - $950
Nanci E. Lacy -- did not file
District 4
Diane Arnold, incumbent - $16,353.60
Larry Vaughn -did not file report
Contact WFYI education reporter Eric Weddle at eweddle@wfyi.org or call (317) 614-0470. Follow on Twitter: @ericweddle.
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