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2020 Election

Scottsdale school board campaign finance reports illustrate most supported candidate

Posted 9/28/20

One Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board candidate has garnered far more campaign financial support than her five competitors.

SUSD teacher Julie Cieniawski has raised $8,460 in …

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2020 Election

Scottsdale school board campaign finance reports illustrate most supported candidate

Posted

One Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board candidate has garnered far more campaign financial support than her five competitors.

SUSD teacher Julie Cieniawski has raised $8,460 in donations during her campaign to win one of three open Governing Board seats in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election.

Candidate Rose Smith — formerly employed by the school district — is the only other candidate who recorded campaign activity. Ms. Smith has raised $2,859 this year, records show.

Six people are running for the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board. Current Governing Board President Allyson Beckman is not seeking reelection; nor are board members Sandy Kravetz or Barbara Perleberg.

The six school candidates are:

  • Kathleen Angelos;
  • Julie Cieniawski;
  • Lucy DiGrazia;
  • Elizabeth Hart-Wells;
  • Zachary Lindsay;
  • Rose Smith.

A candidate is not required to file a statement of organization through the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office until they reach a threshold of $1,200 in combined contributions and/or expenditures, including using their own money.

Once the $1,200 threshold has been met, the candidate’s committee is required to file a statement of organization within 10 days; and file campaign finance reports after that.

Mr. Lindsay and Ms. Hart-Wells both filed statement of organizations in September, county records show.

The next campaign finance reports are due Oct. 1-15, for third-quarter 2020 — at which time Mr. Lindsay’s and Ms. Hart-Wells’ reports of campaign activity will be documented.

If a candidate, such as Ms. DiGrazia or Ms. Angelos, never reach the $1,200 threshold, registration and financial reporting are not required. However, the county Recorder’s Office recommends keeping record of all transactions.

Of the available campaign finance reports, Ms. Cieniawski’s Governing Board campaign began in 2019.

In fourth-quarter 2019, Ms. Cieniawski reported loaning herself $500, and receiving a $200 donation from Brian Cieniawski.

In first-quarter 2020, Ms. Cieniawski received $6,950 in contributions of more than $50; and $915 in contributions less than $50.

She also spent $614 in operating expense disbursements during this period, the reports show.

Of her 44 donations, many came from fellow educators within SUSD and other Valley districts. She also received three donations of $500 from Mark Greenburg, the father of current Governing Board member Jann-Michael Greenburg.

Scottsdale City Councilwoman Solange Whitehead also donated $100 to Ms. Cieniawski’s campaign.

In the July preelection report, Ms. Cieniawski received nearly $400 in donations.

Ms. Cieniawski reports spending $2,451.52 this election cycle on expenses such as postage, printing, transactions fees, contribution envelopes and a website.

Ms. Smith, who worked in the SUSD administration office prior to retiring a few years ago, has received donations throughout this year.

During first-quarter 2020, Ms. Smith reported $1,900 in donations of more than $50; and she received $31.

Also, she reported a $500 loan, and spent $925 for operating expenses.

Of her donations, Dirk Smith donated $1,500; SUSD IT Director Deborah Spaulding donated $500; Cheyenne Traditional School Principal Grace Stombres gave $100; and she received $200 from Mr. Greenburg.

During second-quarter 2020, Ms. Smith earned $578, including $250 from Shawn Beckman, the husband of Governing Board member Patty Beckman.

SUSD teachers Barbara Reinert and Ian Stephan also have donated to Ms. Smith’s campaign.

Ms. Smith has spent funds on expenses such as transaction fees, postage, magnets, promotional materials, copies and a website.