Tulsa School Board Candidates File Campaign Finance Reports

by Oklahoma State Ethics Commission Website, A school board candidate committee that receives or expends contributions in excess of $1,000 must file a quarterly contribution and expenditure report with the district secretary. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission’s timeline requires candidates to submit pre-election financial reports at least eight days before Election Day.

The most recently completed reporting period covered all of October, November and December, with reports to be submitted to each candidate’s school district by January 31st.

In Tulsa Public Schools District 2, Calvin Moniz reported donations of $450 through the end of December. Mr. Moniz also filed a second report listing additional donations of $3,400 received during the first week of January, including $2,900 from Lynn Shusterman.

Her opponent, Kandi Washington, did not submit her report by the January 31st deadline. Washington could not be reached for comment.

In TPS District 5, incumbent John Croissant’s campaign committee reported receiving $6,910 in donations from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, and an additional $4,650 in donations in January. .

Croisant’s two largest donors to date, QuikTrip co-founders Burt Holmes and George Krumme, each donated $3,300 in the last reporting period. The maximum amount an individual can donate to a campaign is $3,300 per election cycle, according to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

Challenger Teresa Pena reported receiving $9,560 in contributions, including a $3,000 loan from herself. Her campaign committee ended her reporting period with $3,174.68 in cash.

The single largest donor to Pena’s campaign was Fran Fleming, who gave $3,300.

In TPS District 6, Sarah Smith reported receiving $12,807 in cash and in-kind contributions. This includes her $100 loan from herself and her only political action committee contribution during the reporting period (her $250 from Tulsa Forward PAC).

The largest single donors to Smith’s campaign during the reporting period were former Cherokee Chief Ross Swimmer and Holmes, who each donated $3,300.

Her campaign committee ended the reporting period with $5,869.66 in cash.

Mr. Smith’s opponent, Maria Seidler, did not submit a report by the Jan. 31 deadline. She said Friday that her own campaign had not met the $1,000 threshold.

Michelle Simmons, who announced her candidacy for the District 6 seat but ultimately did not run, reported receiving $60 in campaign contributions in the fourth quarter. Her campaign committee ended her reporting period with $4,877.43 in cash.

Union officials said they have not received campaign finance reports from District 4 candidates Anthony Jones and Stacey Romanman.

The Romeman and Jones campaigns announced Friday that they had not yet reached the $1,000 threshold.

Only one candidate will be chosen for school board elections in more than a dozen areas, and seats in Bixby, Broken Arrow, Claremore, Jenks, Sand Springs and Tulsa Tech will not be on the April 2 ballot.