Billionaire-Backed Group Spends Unprecedented $290K in Minneapolis School Board Race

[marmar]

(In These Times) New campaign finance reports filed in Minnesota show that the 2014 Minneapolis school board election is being buoyed by a tremendous amount of outside money, including a $100,000 contribution from former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg’s money went to a group that calls itself the Minneapolis Progressive Education Fund. This fund also benefited from a $90,000 influx of cash from California billionaire and venture capitalist Arthur Rock, and another $25,000 from Connecticut businessman Jonathan Sackler, a trustee of the Achievement First charter school chain.

A campaign finance report filed by the Fund this week shows that between July 30 and October 21, it raised $228,300 and spent $146,860 on such things as phone banking, strategy and campaign literature, including $8,500 for social media and website resources. In total, the group has spent more than $286,000 on the race this year.

There are four contenders for the two open at-large seats on the school board. So far, all of the Fund’s resources have been used to promote two candidates: Don Samuels and Iris Altamirano. In addition to a website that advises people to vote for Samuels and Altamirano on November 4, the Fund also sent out two glossy campaign mailers that advocate for Samuels and Altamirano and criticize incumbent candidate Rebecca Gagnon. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/17303/minneapolis_school_board_election_gets_unprecedented_290000_in_dark_money

[progressoid]

1. So they are using the word "Progressive" sarcastically.

[Ikonoklast]

2. They kill public education, this nation is done.

Public money flowing into private hands for zero in return.

[hibbing]

3. "charter school chain"

Well, since everything else seems to be a chain..uh

Peace

[hifiguy]

4. The 1% doesn't miss anything anymore, do they?

I live in Mpls and will NOT be voting for either of them.