Gardner’s getting a lot of money from the current school board

CUSD board candidate Charles Gardner has received some big contributions from members of the current school board. According to his Campaign Disclosure Statement, outgoing board president Ken Jones has given him $1,500; and board member Jolanda Schreurs has given him $250 in cash, $525 in goods and a $2,161 loan.

Gardner’s treasurer, Susan Stuart, says the loan was a combination of a $2,000 cash loan and some accumulated out-of-pocket expenses that had not been reimbursed. She said of Gardner’s fundraising, "It’s a combined effort of Jolanda, me, Charlie, and the school board."

So far, there have been two other contributions of more than $500 to the campaign. Gardner also received $1,000 from the Committee to Elect Jim Larimer. Larimer is a director of the County Coastside Water District. Jonathan Lundell received $1,000 from Sid McCausland, a member of the Half Moon Bay City Council.

These amounts are big money in this campaign.  As of October 16, the total amount of contributions received by each candidate were Moseley $6,134; Lundell $6,853; and Gardner $8,625. Generally, the candidates’ sources are a small number of $100 and $200 contributions and smaller, unitemized contributions.

There were two partisan items on the disclosure statements in this otherwise nonpartisan campaign. Jonathan Lundell received a $100 contribution from Green party and Charles Gardner paid $200 to appear on a Republican party slate card.

Though Moseley is supported by the CUSD board, he has received only $100 in contributions from any members. When I asked Gardner why he had been selected for special treatment from the current board, he replied, "I guess they just like me better."