Monday, October 8, 2018

Staggering amounts of outside money raised in SPI race :: K-12 Daily

Staggering amounts of outside money raised in SPI race :: K-12 Daily :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet

Staggering amounts of outside money raised in SPI race

(Calif.) Charter school supporters backing Marshall Tuck for state superintendent of public instruction have raised nearly $10 million since the beginning of July for independent spending during the closing weeks of the campaign.

The outside money, combined with another $1.2 million that donors gave Tuck’s campaign itself over the summer, gives the former charter school administrator a significant financial advantage over his opponent, Tony Thurmond, currently a member of the state Assembly representing the Richmond area.

So far, independent committees favoring Thurmond have brought in only about $2.5 million. That could change quickly, however, because his primary outside support comes from the California Teachers Association, which has among the biggest political war chests in the state.

The two candidates have themselves raised a similar amount of money since the close of the primary in June, when Tuck narrowly defeated Thurmond by less than 2 percent or about 87,000 votes.

Tuck has brought in close to $1.3 million since July, while Thurmond has raised about $800,000 during the same period.

The big influence of outside money was not unexpected given the determination both sides have exhibited not only in the June primary, but also the last time the office was up for election in 2014.

Four years ago, when Tuck faced off against Tom Torlakson, the incumbent, independent committees on both sides spent close to $5 million.

Torlakson, who also enjoyed the support of CTA, won that election by about 4 percentage points.

In June, supporters of Tuck spent close to $9 million on independent expenditures; meanwhile, those supporting Thurmond, spent another $4 million.

The vigor that both sides continue to put into capturing the office is surprising given the fact that in California, the state superintendent actually has very little direct authority over the state education system. The governor and legislative leaders control spending decisions through the budget process, Continue reading: Staggering amounts of outside money raised in SPI race :: K-12 Daily :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet