School board campaign funds in the four figures

Deirdre Newman

Tom Egan received the most campaign contributions during the

latest filing period among school board candidates, pulling in $5,422

in monetary contributions and loans, according to reports that were

available Friday.

The filing period was Oct. 1 through Oct. 19.

Egan, challenging incumbent Wendy Leece, received $422 in monetary

contributions and $5,000 in loans. He spent $7,663, primarily on

brochures, bookmarks and a letterhead. His ending cash balance is

$997.59.

He said the bookmarks are going like gangbusters.

“They’re all over,” Egan said. “People who are walking

door-to-door are dropping them off in Corona del Mar and Newport

Heights. I drop off several at each house. If I see pumpkins and

other signs of kids, I drop off a few more, because I figure they

could use them.”

Leece took in $1,675 in total contributions and spent $1,708. She

has an ending cash balance of $971. Leece said she spent her funds on

signs, fliers and two slate mailings. Leece, who said she has only

received about $4,200 to date, said she is trying to be prudent in

her campaign.

“I’m trying to run a very conservative campaign to demonstrate how

conservative I am in my spending,” Leece said. “I don’t think in

running for school board you should have to put out a lot of money to

be a public servant because you care about public education and

children.”

Incumbent Serene Stokes received $2,885 in total contributions and

spent $5,100, leaving an ending cash balance of $1,267. Most of her

expenditures went to campaign signs.

Shelby Cove, running against incumbent Judy Franco, received $450

in total contributions and spent $446, with an ending cash balance of

$4. Her expenditures went to food for a fund-raiser and mailing

material such as paper, envelopes and labels.