As Iowa school board elections have become more political, the costs associated with running for a volunteer position that decides everything from budgets to bus routes have also increased.
Campaign disclosure reports for city and school board candidates, city and school political action committees, and local ballot issue committees were due by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2.
Reports analyzed by Starting Line showed the higher cost associated with running for local office, especially in suburban school districts where national right-wing fights over books and how to teach about diversity have divided communities.
The Ankeny and Johnston school board races are two that have generated a lot of attention and the money matches the hype. Collectively, more than $145,000 was raised and/or spent in both races by candidates, political action committees, and independent organizations.
Conservative and progressive organizations have gotten involved as well. The Family Leader, which endorsed conservative candidates in Johnston and Ankeny, spent nearly $13,000 so far in the Johnston School Board race. Alliance for a Better Iowa, a progressive group, and One Iowa, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, collectively spent almost $25,000 in the Ankeny and Johnston races.
Financials for the Ankeny Republican PAC weren’t available yet, but the group provided campaign materials and other support to conservative candidates in the Ankeny School Board race. In the 2021 cycle, the PAC spent about $10,000 to help conservatives sweep city and school races.
Based on available reports, here’s how much candidates and outside groups spent on this year’s school board races in Ankeny and Johnston, respectively:
ANKENY
Total cash raised and/or spent: *$55,549.46
Candidate: Nick Bourne
Total cash contributions: $845
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $701.39
Candidate: Katie Claeys
Total cash contributions: $3,260
In-kind contributions: $302.50
Expenses: $2,557.02
Independent expenditure in support: $3,660, Alliance for a Better Iowa
Candidate: Stephanie Gott
Total cash contributions: $3,535
In-kind contributions: $880
Expenses: $1,712.27
Candidate: Amy Guidry
Total cash contributions: $3,951
In-kind contributions: $1,059.27
Expenses: $3,233.63
Candidate: Christian Holtz
Total cash contributions: $0
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $0
Candidate: Shelly Northway
Total cash contributions: $19,756.99
In-kind contributions: $76.50
Expenses: $14,985.65
Independent expenditure in support: $3,660, Alliance for a Better Iowa; $2,500, One Iowa
Candidate: Joshua Palik
Total cash contributions: $2,725
In-kind contributions:$1,000
Expenses: $1,978.09
Candidate: Amber Romans
Total cash contributions: $2,080
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $2,001.04
Candidate: Amy Tagliareni
Total cash contributions: $6,696.47
In-kind contributions: $602.50
Expenses: $1,703.98
Independent expenditure in support: $3,660, Alliance for a Better Iowa
Candidate: Ryan Weldon
Total cash contributions: $2,340
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $2,340
(*$55,549.46 without the Ankeny Republicans PAC included. The PAC provided support to Nick Bourne, Stephanie Gott, Amy Guidry, Joshua Palik, Ryan Weldon, but because it is registered as a state political action committee, it has a different disclosure deadline.)
JOHNSTON
Total cash raised and/or spent: **$90,113.50
Candidate: Jason Arnold
Total cash contributions: $10,387.82
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $6,050.21
Independent expenditure in support: $2,192.50, Alliance For A Better Iowa; $800, One Iowa
Candidate: **Jennifer Chamberland (Chamberland did not file a statement of organization for her campaign).
Total cash contributions:
In-kind contributions:
Expenses:
Independent expenditure in support: $2,192.50, Alliance for a Better Iowa
Candidate: Soneeta Mangra-Dutcher
Total cash contributions: $5,879.23
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $3,330.68
Independent expenditure in support: $2,192.50, Alliance for a Better Iowa; $800, One Iowa
Candidate: Josh Nelson
Total cash contributions: $4,831. 31
In-kind contributions: $1,263.38
Expenses: $4,183.71
Independent expenditure in support: $1,613.53, The Family Leader (10/12/2023); $1,613.53, The Family Leader (10/25/2023)
Candidate: Charles Steele
Total cash contributions: $5,158.17
In-kind contributions: $1,199.62
Expenses: $4,543.91
Independent expenditure in support: $1,613.53, The Family Leader (10/12/2023), $1,613.53, The Family Leader (10/25/2023)
Candidate: Lori Stiles
Total cash contributions: $7,040.35
In-kind contributions: $1,099.50
Expenses: $5,190.78
Independent expenditure in support: $1,613.53, The Family Leader (10/12/2023), $1,613.53; The Family Leader (10/25/2023)
Candidate: Michelle Veach
Total cash contributions: $9,512.76
In-kind contributions: $1,099.50
Expenses: $8,907.37
Independent expenditure in support: $1,613.53, The Family Leader (10/12/2023); $1,613.53, The Family Leader (10/25/2023)
Candidate: Lya Williams
Total cash contributions: $16,030.62
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $14,410.52
Independent expenditure in support: $2,192.50, Alliance For A Better Iowa, $800, One Iowa
Political Action Committee: Johnston Public Schools Supporters
Total cash contributions: $7,196
In-kind contributions: $0
Expenses: $5,363.55
Politics
Why the Dec. 5 Waterloo run-off election is big for the LGBTQ community
The Dec. 5 run-off election in Waterloo will be a match-up between a progressive voice on the city council who fights for LGBTQ protections and one...
Explainer: Why Iowans (likely) will be blocked from voting directly on abortion rights
More states are enshrining access to abortion care in their state constitutions, and some Iowans are wondering if the same can be done here? The...
Local News
Iowa’s Coolest Vintage Movie Theaters Still in Operation Today
Classic, vintage, iconic, and just plain cool, we found some old movie theaters sprinkled across the state—many of them long-time staples on the...
West Des Moines Honors The Long Family’s Contributions
For 34 years straight, Johnny and Barbara Long never missed a West Des Moines City Council meeting. “They attended more meetings [in other years] as...
