Who’s Got the Money?
T. Fitz Johnson, a U.S. Army veteran and a partner in a private equity firm, is the fundraising leader among those in the race for Georgia school superintendent. Here are the top five fundraisers and the amount of cash contributions they’ve received so far:
1. T. Fitz Johnson, Republican: $277,485
2. Alisha Thomas Morgan, Democrat: $102,559.75
3. Valarie Wilson, Democrat: $50,026
4. Sharyl Dawes, Republican: $50,001.80
5. Ashley Bell, Republican: $41,325
Morgan is their choice
Alisha Thomas Morgan has received $32,300 from individuals and groups associated with the school choice movement, which seeks to give parents alternatives to traditional public schools. Here is a sample of some of those donations:
American Federation for Children, $6,300
Janine Yass, vice chairwoman of the Center for Education Reform, $6,300
Martha Revenaugh, charter school backer in New York, $5,000
John Kirtley, backed a tax credit/voucher program in Florida, $6,300
Charter Schools USA, $6,300
Morgan is their choice
Alisha Thomas Morgan has received $32,300 from individuals and groups associated with the school choice movement, which seeks to give parents alternatives to traditional public schools. Here is a sample of some of those donations:
American Federation for Children, $6,300
Janine Yass, vice chairwoman of the Center for Education Reform, $6,300
Martha Revenaugh, charter school backer in New York, $5,000
John Kirtley, backed a tax credit/voucher program in Florida, $6,300
Charter Schools USA, $6,300
School choice advocates from around the country have poured money into the campaign of a leading Democrat in the race for Georgia superintendent, boosting their chances of having a supporter in that office no matter who wins this fall.
The superintendent’s race is the second time in the past two years that outside people and groups have flexed their financial muscle in the push to expand school choice in Georgia. In 2012, big money donors bankrolled the successful campaign to change the Georgia constitution so it’s clear the state has the authority to approve new charter schools.
Recent campaign finance reports show that choice advocates — those who back charter schools, voucher programs and the use of tax credits to offset private school tuition — have given Democrat Alisha Thomas Morgan $32,300, nearly a third of the $102,560 she has raised so far in the race. Republicans, who see school choice options as important alternatives for parents whose children attend low-performing traditional public schools, are typically on the receiving end of such donations.
T. Fritz Johnson, a Republican who has raised more money than any candidate in the race, is an ardent supporter of school choice, a staple of GOP politics. Morgan, though, has rankled some in her party by supporting school choice and criticizing the performance of traditional public schools in arguing for more school options.
“I represent the new face of the Democratic Party,” said Morgan, a state representative from Austell. “I’m the only Democrat with a chance to win this election.”
The $32,300 Morgan has raised from choice backers is more than 10 of her fellow candidates have raised in total. Nearly all of that choice money has come from individuals and groups outside of Georgia, which bothers Verdaillia Turner, president of the Georgia Federation of Teachers.
“Georgians don’t need outsiders with deep pockets and ideological agendas telling us how to run our public schools,” Turner said. “Poll after poll shows that parents across the nation overwhelmingly choose strong neighborhood public schools over expanding choice, charters and vouchers. It’s time for policymakers to change course and listen to what parents and other taxpayers want for their schools instead of wealthy outsiders who have no stake in our children or our communities.”
Morgan pointed out that most of the $103,000 she has raised came from donors in Georgia. And she said she is listening to parents.
She pointed to the charter-school amendment campaign. Many Democrats lined up against the amendment, arguing that its passage would lead to lots of new charter schools that would suck money from traditional public schools. (Charter schools are public schools, but they are granted more flexibility than traditional public schools in exchange for a commitment to pursue specific academic goals.)
Morgan campaigned for the charter amendment, which passed with 58 percent of the vote, including backing from Democratic areas.
“I’m much more aligned with what the Democratic base wants,” Morgan said.
Kerwin Swint, a political scientist at Kennesaw State University, said teachers aren’t likely to forget Morgan’s support of the charter school amendment or the criticism she aimed at some of the state’s traditional public schools.
“Her support of the charter school amendment angered a lot of teachers,” Swint said. “You wonder if that will dilute her support with the Democratic base.”
Few politicians in Georgia openly oppose charter schools, which are broadly popular. Many Democrats, however, do argue that charter school funding and tax credits that offset private school tuition deprive traditional public schools of the money they need to be more successful. They also argue that the push for charter schools and tax credits is fueled by the desire of Republicans to create money-making opportunities for their supporters.
The campaign of Valarie Wilson, a former City Schools of Decatur board member and one of Morgan’s competitors for the Democratic nomination, said Wilson “stands for adequate funding for education and support for teachers, and against the privatization of the school system through vouchers and for-profit charter schools.”
Wilson has raised $50,026 — less than half of the money raised by Morgan — but her campaign claims momentum is on her side now that she’s in the race.
“With only three weeks of fundraising, we have established a strong foundation, and we intend to demonstrate to Georgia voters that Valarie has both the message and the means to serve our children’s best interests,” said Leslie Munson, Wilson’s campaign manager.
Beyond primary opponents, Morgan’s biggest challenge is simply her party affiliation, Swint said. No Democrat has won statewide office in Georgia since 2006.
With midterm congressional elections in November, this year isn’t expected to be a hospitable time for Democrats, as Republicans will be pounding the party and tying everyone in it to President Barack Obama.
“It’s not a good climate right now,” Swint said.
The political climate is not slowing down Johnson, who has raised $277,485, far more than the combined amount brought in by Morgan and Wilson.
Johnson’s huge fund-raising edge — he has raised almost three times as much as Morgan and five times as much as his nearest Republican rival, Sharyl Dawes — shows where the race stands, said Jason O’Rourke, Johnson’s campaign manager.
“The fundraising reports reflect what education leaders and grassroots Republicans have been saying for some time now,” he said. “There is a clear front-runner in this race.”
Johnson and others from his equity firm have poured $36,300 into his campaign.
“From the beginning, we have emphasized that Fitz is committed to doing all that he can to help our schools and our students achieve more and that includes investing his personal resources in this campaign,” O’Rourke said.
About the Author
