By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The citizens group opposed to the Bowling Green City Schools levy in May has filed its campaign finance report with the Wood County Board of Elections.
The filing deadline for campaign finance information from the May primary election was Friday at 4 p.m. The reports list those who contributed to election efforts, and how that money was spent. The group supporting the school levy made the deadline, but group opposed to the levy did not. However, when the board of elections arrived to work this morning, the report had been emailed in.
The group opposed the levy – Wood County Citizens Against Higher Property Tax, with Grant Chamberlain as treasurer – reported receiving $7,267.62 since the first filing. Following are the contributions listed to the anti-levy campaign:
- Irene Hinesman, $50
- Douglas Seiple, $1,000
- SLD Rentals, $300
- David Apple, $1,000
- Dudley Dauterman, $1,000
- Gregory W. Bils, $400
- Dan Hoffmann, $100
- Robert Strow, $100
- Sonja Chamberlain, $250
- Thomas Carpenter, $250
- Harold Moore, $500
- Tad Yarger, $100
- John H. Herringshaw, $200
- Fine Vines LLC, $1,500
- Gary Herringshaw, $200
- Stephen C. Bateson, $200
- Eric T. Lause, $50
- Grant Chamberlain, $67.62
The group in favor of the school levy – Citizens in Support of Our Schools, with Andy Newlove as treasurer – reported receiving $3,600 in contributions since the April filing. Following is a list of the donations to the pro-levy campaign:
- Becca Ferguson, $100
- David Codding, $2,500
- Control Systems of Ohio, $1,000
According to the Ohio Campaign Finance Handbook, if a required report is filed late, then the county board of elections or the secretary of state must refer the PAC to the Ohio Elections Commission. The commission determines if a fine should be imposed.
Both pro and anti school levy groups filed the initial required campaign finance reports at the end of April. Those reports showed the contributions and expenditures through the period up to 20 days before the election. The post election reports due last Friday showed the money taken in and spent following the first report filed in April.
In the initial reports, the anti-levy group had raised $10,866 from nine donors. The pro-levy group had raised $14,175 from 32 donors.
Campaign finance law requires any Political Action Committee to report its finances. The reports must include where the money comes from – both in financial contributions and in-kind donations which are products or services that benefit the cause.
