Two political action committees, one of which was involved in last year’s race and one formed about three months ago, have announced their endorsements for the upcoming Springfield Board of Education race.
Incumbents Danielle Kincaid, Scott Crise and Maryam Mohammadkhani, as well as Landon McCarter, Susan Provance, Kyler Sherman-Wilkins and Chad Rollins, are running for three open seats on the board. The election is set for April 2.
New group announces picks, additional fundraising
United Springfield will support Kincaid, Provance and Crise. Based on responses from a questionnaire submitted to all seven candidates, the three were found by members of the committee’s selection committee to be most able of uniting Springfield children, citizens and community, according to a press release.
Each candidate was given the same questions to answer in written format, according to a release. The seven candidates also participated in interviews with a subcommittee of the PAC’s steering committee, where all candidates were asked the same questions.
“Our process has exceeded our expectations,” said Jim Anderson, co-chair of the group. “Many people reached out to us to share they appreciate the transparency in which we operate, independent from any organization, and wanted us to select candidates that best fit our mission.”
United Springfield was formed as a nonpartisan committee in the wake of national political parties and groups getting involved in local boards and offices that are intended to be nonpartisan.
The previous school board election last April drew negative advertisements targeting eventual winners Judy Brunner and Shurita Thomas-Tate, and encouraged votes for McCarter and Rollins.
The group reported it has raised more than $120,000 in donations over the past three months. About $30,000 of that has been given over the last week — reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission filed on Jan. 15 reported $93,357 in receipts and $3,299.19 in expenses, with $89,067.81 on hand.
The PAC said it will support the three endorsed candidates, but only in a positive manner.
“Supporting candidates that fit our mission will always be our priority,” said Terri McQueary, co-chair for the PAC, in the release.
The steering committee members include treasurer Debbie Shantz Hart, Raylene Appleby, Orin Cummings, Jeff Johnson, Julie Leeth, Alina Lehnert, Tom Prater and Gail Smart.
PAC from last year’s election makes picks
Back on Track PAC has chosen McCarter, Rollins and Mohammadkhani for its endorsements, making the announcement Sunday on its Facebook page.
The three were chosen for their support of raising test scores, stopping social engineering and bringing discipline and order back to the classroom, according to its Facebook page. It did not announce how committee members made their endorsement decisions, but appears to have made those picks as early as Dec. 5.
Based in Springfield, it reported receipts of $26,155 and expenditures of $739.82 over the last three months. It has $25,927.40 on hand. Most of its on-hand money comes from a $25,000 donation made from the Cook Family Foundation, an Ozark-based nonprofit group.
Last year the conservative committee endorsed McCarter and Rollins and funded mailers targeting Brunner and Thomas-Tate.
The PAC on its website states it has a purpose to “take back the schools, take back the nation one community at a time, and engage the church to restore Biblical values,” and has beliefs against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, such as critical race theory, transgender issues and parental choice. The group names none of its steering committee members on its website.
The Hauxeda is seeking comment from members of the PAC and will update this report if they respond.
Other groups are expected to make their endorsements in the coming weeks.
Editor’s note: Jim Anderson serves as one of five members of the Hauxeda Board of Directors. His involvement with the board has no bearing on editorial decisions related to coverage of United Springfield.
