B-W School Board Races Show Marked Differences in Funding, Spending

Baldwin-Whitehall School Board candidates for the area's May 17 primary elections have filed their financial interest statements, and election expense reports are showing that the "Residents for Lower Taxes and Better Education" has spent more than three-and-a-half times as much money on its 2011 primary campaign as has the "Committee to Build a Better Board."

Allegheny County's Campaign Finance Reports Web page shows that members of the "Residents for Lower Taxes and Better Education" each contributed $500 toward their joint campaign, with an additional $500 each contributed by current school board members George L. Pry and John B. Schmotzer ($4,000 total funding).

Neither Pry—the current school board president—nor Schmotzer are running for re-election. The "Residents for Lower Taxes and Better Education" committee is made up of current school board members Diana Kazour, Kevin J. Fischer, Laurencine Romack and Sam DiNardo Jr., as well as Ray Rosing and Larry Pantuso.

The "Committee to Build a Better Board" has one less member than its opponents' committee. Running on the "Better Board" committee is current school board member Kevin A. Stiffey, as well as Lora J. Kalwarski, Marion M. Shannon, Richard J. Kirsch and Tracy Macek.

The aforementioned campaign finance reports Web page shows that members of the "Committee to Build a Better Board" each contributed $200 toward their joint campaign, with an additional $92.03 contributed by Susan Stiffey, Kevin's wife, and the Whitehall Public Library's public relations/graphics manager; $100 from Jeffrey Ruder, a friend of Shannon's; and $295 from an assortment of other individuals giving $50 or less per contributor ($1,487.03 total funding).

The "Residents for Lower Taxes and Better Education" spent $2,662 on yard signs and $440 on postage stamps ($3,102 total), leaving an ending cash balance of $898.

The "Committee to Build a Better Board" spent $867.69 on yard signs only, leaving an ending cash balance of $619.34.