A new record: SPS board candidates report $450K+ in donations, loans, in-kind gifts
A week before the April 2 election, Springfield school board candidates have reported more than $450,000 in campaign donations, including loans and in-kind gifts.
Reports filed Monday with the Missouri Ethics Commission show the seven candidates have generated an additional $250,000 since the reporting deadline in late February.
Maryam Mohammadkhani, a retired pathologist, continued to lead the fundraising efforts, reporting $82,865 — plus the $25,000 she gave her campaign Friday — pushing her above $107,000.
She is one of three incumbents on the ballot, along with Scott Crise and Danielle Kincaid.
Crise, manager of gas plant operations for Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., reported $75,659. And Kincaid, an attorney and partner with the Elder Law Group, was not far behind with $70,743.
Susan Provance, a retired Springfield teacher and coach, reported $68,432. She and Kincaid have added more than $50,000 since their previous reports.
The largest donations, by far, were from the United Springfield PAC to Crise, Kincaid and Provance. The local group provided each with $20,000 for TV campaign ads plus another $10,000 or so in related in-kind services.
Landon McCarter, a business owner and entrepreneur, had raised $60,385 since late February. He was followed by Chad Rollins, facility manager and pharmacy director at HealthDirect Pharmacy Services, who reported $43,284.
Kyler Sherman-Wilkins, an associate professor of sociology at Missouri State University, raised the least so far with just $29,700.
Next week, voters will select three board members. They will join a board that sets policy, approves the budget and hires and evaluates the superintendent.
Scott Crise
Crise has raised an additional $41,659, including $10,318 in in-kind gifts, pushing his total for this election to $75,534.
He received a total of $30,319 from United Springfield, including $20,000 in cash and the rest in in-kind gifts.
Crise also made a $5,000 loan to his own campaign.
His largest donations included:
$500 − Robert and Peg Carolla, retired; Steve and Anna Gintz, financial advisors; Joe Lipari, of Texas; William Turner, retired, of Strafford; and Bryan Magers, real estate.
Crise also received $100 from Carol Taylor, former president of Evangel University and $100 from Jim Anderson, co-chair of Untied Springfield, and his wife, Janet.
As far as contributions from current or former elected officials and their spouses, Crise received $200 from Springfield Mayor Ken McClure.
Danielle Kincaid
Kincaid has raised an additional $53,625, including $10,416 in in-kind gifts, pushing her total for this election to $70,743.
She has received a total of $30,166 from United Springfield, including $20,000 in cash and the rest in in-kind gifts.
The in-kind gifts also included $250 from Mother's Brewing Company.
Her largest donations included:
$2,500 − Advance PAC with Jan Fisk as treasurer;
$1,520 − Kevin Waterland, technology; Carol Taylor, former president of Evangel University and Kincaid's campaign treasurer;
$1,000 − Randy Alberhasky, attorney;
$750 − Alia Lee, event producer;
$700 − Bryan Fisher, attorney; Gary Buzbee, retired;
$520 − Stephanie Stenger, attorney;
$500 − Crista Hogan, attorney; Jennifer Baker, psychologist; Kris Barefield, attorney; James Breese, retired, of Reeds Spring; Bill Turner, Great Southern Bank; and Gail Smart, community volunteer and wife of Missouri State University president Clif Smart.
Mike Hamra, a local CEO and Democratic candidate for governor, donated $260.
Kincaid also received $250 from Jim Anderson, co-chair of United Springfield, and his wife Janet; Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College, gave $200.
There were contributions from current or former elected officials, and their spouses:
$200 − Bruce Renner, former school board member, and his wife, Pat;
$52 − Shurita Thomas-Tate, current school board member.
Landon McCarter
McCarter has raised an additional $19,544, pushing his total to $60,385.
His largest donations included:
$2,150 − Kent Greve, general manager;
$2,000 − Gayla Hancock, retired, of Republic;
$1,500 − Will Cox, energy company;
$1,400 − Robert Wilson, retired
$1,250 − Travis Comfort, automotive, of Nixa; Barry Clark, self-employed;
$1,000 − Missouri NEA PAC; Erik Hansen, web developer; Sam Coryell, self-employed;
$800 − John Hawkins, financial services;
$500 − Teamsters Local No. 245 PAC; Connie McCarter, retired; Robert Shaw, physician; Swayne Loftis, contractor; Steve Hood, business owner; and Shawn Fisk, self-employed.
Contributions from current or former elected officials and their spouses included:
$500 − Allen Icet, Greene County Collector of Revenue;
$150 − Steve Makoski, current school board member.
Maryam Mohammadkhani
Mohammadkhani has raised an additional $36,103, including a $25,000 donation to her own campaign, pushing her total for this election to $107,265.
The $25,000 donation to her campaign was not reflected on the report filed Monday but was reported separately in recent days.
Her largest donations included:
$2,500 − Robert Shaw, plastic surgeon;
$2,000 − Kim Hancock, security specialist, of Republic;
$1,125 − Barry Clark, entrepreneur;
$1,000 − Missouri NEA PAC; Samuel Coryell, real estate;
$800 − John Buckner, surgeon;
$500 − Elizabeth Aull, retired; and Swayne Loftis, contractor.
Contributions from current or former elected officials and their spouses included:
$100 − Amanda Dixon, realtor, wife of Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon.
Susan Provance
Provance has raised an additional $54,859, including $10,166 in in-kind gifts, pushing her total for this election to $68,432.
She has received a total of $30,166 from United Springfield, including $20,000 in cash and the rest in in-kind gifts.
Clif Smart, president of Missouri State University, and his wife Gail, hosted a "meet the candidate" event for Provance at their home. Gail Smart also donated $250.
Other large donations included:
$2,500 − Advance PAC with Jan Fisk as treasurer;
$2,000 − Lynn Thompson, retired; Barney White, retired, of Reeds Spring;
$1,041 − Brandon Twibell, attorney;
$1,000 − John Everett, CPA, of Ozark; John Stack, CEO;
$521 − Joseph Hamilton, business owner; Douglas Hamilton, business owner; Adam Horton, housing development, of Nixa; Stephanie Stenger, attorney;
$500 − William Turner, retired, of Strafford; Mark Walker, CEO; Constance White, retired; and Teamsters Local No. 245.
She received $104 from Carol Taylor, former president of Evangel University.
She also received $521 from Mike Hamra, CEO and Democratic candidate for governor.
Contributions from current or former elected officials and their spouses included:
$500 − Tom Prater, former member of school board and City Council;
$250 − Teresa Ollis, wife of former City Council member Richard Ollis;
$208 − Jean Twitty, former school board member.
Chad Rollins
Rollins has raised an additional $30,979, including $286 in in-kind donations, pushing his total for this election to $43,284.
His largest donations included two from Curtis Jared totaling $25,500. Others included:
$2,000 − Kim Hancock, of Republic, self-employed;
$1,000 − Thomas Fowler, bank president; Samuel Coryell, self-employed; Robert Wilson, retired;
$700 − Mike Plute, self-employed;
$500 − Robert Shaw, physician; Mark Wilson, retired; and Swayne Loftis, self-employed.
Contributions from current or former elected officials and their spouses included:
$750 − Allen Icet, Greene County Collector.
Kyler Sherman-Wilkins
Sherman-Wilkins has raised an additional $$13,817, including $1,075 in an in-kind gift from a local restaurant owner, pushing his total for this election to $29,700.
His largest donations included:
$2,500 − John Oke-Thomas, architect;
$1,562 − Catherine Hoegman, professor;
$1,301 − Raymond Crespo, retired;
$1,000 − Missouri NEA PAC;
$700 − Jennifer Joslin, university administrator;
$500 − Teamsters Local No. 245.
Contributions from current or former elected officials and their spouses included:
$250 − Abe McGull, current City Council member;
$150 − Charlotte Hardin, former school board member.
Political action committee
In reports filed Monday, political action committees involved in the Springfield school board campaign reported additional funds or in-kind services received since late February.
The United Springfield PAC reported an additional $11,800, including $524 in in-kind donations, to lift its total to $132,792.
The largest donations during this period include:
$5,000 − Nancy O'Reilly, psychologist;
$1,000 − Keith LaFerriere, retired;
$500 − Thomas Essman, retired; James Jeffries, manufacturer; Beverly Keltner, retired; Randy Alberhasky, attorney; Michael Hoeman, physician and former school board member;
The Back on Track PAC reported an additional $28,348, bringing its total for this election cycle to $39,118.
Of that amount, $25,000 was from four donations, $6,250 each, from family members connected to the Loren Cook company in Springfield.
The other gifts included $2,500 from Elizabeth Raidel, retired; $500 from Mark Bult, retired, $200 from Karen Sweeney, retired; and $100 from Robert Gist, retired.
The Vote417 PAC reported $1,865 in donations, bringing its total for this calendar year or election cycle to $2,600.
The largest donations were $500 from Warford Johnson, of Ozark, Dennis Pyle, of Billings, the president; and $195 from Jacob Brower, the secretary and treasurer. Denise Fredrick, former school board member, gave $100.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS board candidates report $450K+ in donations, loans, in-kind gifts