Four School Board Candidates Betting Own Money on Nov. 2 Election

Deep pockets are the biggest source of funding for four candidates in local school board races. Their own.

According to the latest financial disclosure statements, challenger Robert B. Divine II has loaned himself $7,500 in his bid to unseat one of three incumbents running in the Grossmont Union High School District. Incumbent Robert Shield, a Lakeside schoolteacher, has loaned himself $6,500.

Form 460 statements required by the state show that Divine and Shield have raised the same amount in monetary and nonmonetary contributions: $0.

By contrast, incumbent Richard "Dick" Hoy is leaning on others as candidates make their final sprint toward the Nov. 2 election.

Hoy has raised $6,796 through Sept. 30 from 19 groups or individuals, including $1,500 from the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians and $1,000 from Jim Clark of e3 Partners Ministry, a Texas-based evangelism group with offices in San Diego.

Hoy also got $612 from the Grossmont Board Election Committee—an arm of the local teachers union—and $262 from Frances Zumwalt, president of the union, the Grossmont Education Association.

Incumbent board member Jim Kelly reports raising no money this year. His two-page Form 460, required for candidates who raise or spend more than $1,000, shows a large "0" written across it.

Grossmont school board challengers Dolores Riggins and Brian Divine—son of Robert—did not submit reports to the county Registrar of Voters Office.

In the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, which has four candidates vying for three seats, incumbent Penny Halgren has loaned herself $4,713. Through Sept. 30, she has raised $720 from others.

Incumbent Bob Duff has raised $2,514—but only $775 in cash. The rest is "nonmonetary contributions."

And incumbent Rick Winet has raised $2,913 through Oct. 16, according to a statement filed that day. Nearly half of that—$1,405—are Winet's own funds. Winet's brother, Randall, an attorney, contributed $250 as did James Brown, owner of local Cadillac dealership Marvin. K Brown. Bill Drew, owner of Drew Ford, also donated $250.

Jay Steiger, the lone challenger in the La Mesa-Spring Valley school board race, did not file a Form 460. But he says he will after he gets his candidate ID number from the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

"I have raised over $1,000 and submitted the Form 410 to Sacramento," Steiger said via email.  "My contributions have been smaller dollar amounts from local parents and community members."