School Board Challengers Lead in Fundraising

Three challengers lead the fundraising charge in the race for three open school board seats that will be decided next month, according to county campaign finance records.

Monrovia voters will take to the polls on Nov. 8 to decide between incumbents Bryan Wong and Ed Gililland and challengers Rob Hammond, Janeane Covarrubias, Ed McCarthy, David Crabtree and Terrence Williams. The top three vote getters will win seats on the Board of Education.

So far Covarrubias has raised the most money for her campaign between January 1 and September 24, taking in $3,032 in total contributions, according to county campaign finance disclosures. Former Monrovia Mayor Rob Hammond comes in second with a total of $2,000 in contributions and Williams next with a total of $1,325 received, records show.

For a full breakdown of contributions and spending by each candidate, click here.

Covarrubias' biggest donor was Irene Cervantes of Monrovia, who listed her occupation as retired and gave $200. Covarrubias' campaign also received a $1,200 loan from Mary Quinteros of Monrovia, who also lists her occupation as retired, records show.

Hammond received just one campaign donation during the same period--$100 from Gloria Crudgington, a self-employed marriage and family counselor. The rest of his contributions came from two loans for $1,000 and $900 he gave to his own campaign.

Disclosure statements show that Williams has the backing of two city council members. Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, Williams' largest single donor, donated $500 to his campaign and Councilwoman Becky Shevlin gave him $200, records show.

Newcomers Crabtree and McCarthy and incumbents Gililland and Wong all filed paperwork saying their campaigns anticipate receiving and spending less than $1,000--the threshold which requires full contribution disclosure. However, Gililland notified the county this month that he has raised more than the maximum and now must file full disclosure statements, documents show.

Both Gililland and McCarthy were fined by the county for filing their disclosure statements late. McCarthy was fined $50 and Gililland paid a $30 fine, records show.

Stay tuned for the Patch School Board Candidates Forum later this month, when the candidates will answer questions from readers and the editor. If you have a question you'd like to ask the candidates, email Editor Nathan McIntire at nathan.mcintire@patch.com