A little over $85,000 has been raised in the two-man race to replace Marlene Canter on Los Angeles Unified's Board of Education, according to city campaign finance records.
Monday was the deadline for candidates to file records of contributions received through Dec. 31.
Mike Stryer has raised $53,000 to Steve Zimmer's approximately $32,000.*
Both men are white LAUSD high school teachers. They're vying to represent a diverse district that runs from Westchester into Hollywood and up past Pacific Palisades into Woodland Hills. The race has changed significantly since contender Ben Austin dropped out last month after a signature-gathering fiasco.
Incumbent Monica Garcia, who is unchallenged in her bid to retain representation of downtown-centered District 2 -- has raised about $107,000.
In District 6, in the northeastern San Fernando Valley, the two candidates seeking to replace Julie Korenstein have raised significantly less -- about $23,000. Louis Pugliese, who has run for a board seat before, has far outpaced San Fernando Mayor Nury Martinez, who has just $1,500.
*Digging a little deeper, I see that Stryer loaned himself $30,000. A notable portion of his contributions come from outside the district -- other parts of California and outside the state. Also: Actress Ricki Lake gave him $250.
Most of Zimmer's contributions are from L.A., and a striking number are from LAUSD teachers and other employees. (Not surprising, perhaps, since he's got UTLA's endorsement.)
Generally speaking, it looks like Stryer, who has a background in business, has a lot more high-income donors -- at least surmising based on their job titles.
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