Youngest School Board Candidate Raises Highest Dollars--So Far

With six days to go before the election, records show that LCUSD governing board challenger has raised more than $14,000 in campaign contributions--pulling ahead of incumbent by roughly $1,100.

"I think our fundraising is a good metric for the level of enthusiasm and excitement this campaign has generated,'' said Blumenfeld, a junior at Princeton University, who added that he has spent about 50 percent of his time physically in La Cañada since September.

Blumenfeld is one of four candidates vying for two seats on the governing board of the The third and last filing period for campaign contributions is the end of December, but the election is Tuesday.

Fellow challengers are , whose reported contributions totaling nearly $13,000; incumbent Broberg, who's raised a tad more than $13,000; and challenger , who's maintained since the beginning of the race that he was not actively soliciting campaign contributions, bringing up the rear with $4,150. The aforementioned figures were reported to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder in Norwalk. The latest filing period covered Sept. 25 to Oct. 22.

The other 50 percent of Blumenfeld's time since September has been spent slumped over textbooks, splattered with campaign literature, while working the phones from New Jersey. To his naysayers, Blumefeld retorts, "The campaign's energy and presence was felt 100 percent of the time. From [attending] over 30 events, to phone calls and emails, to mailers, to advertisements, we made sure the message was out there: I will be an advocate for parent and student interests on this school board,'' he wrote in an email Wednesday.

As for Koeppen, the school board candidate pointed out that he has stayed true to his word of not seeking out donations. According to the campaign documents, Koeppen is his own largest contributor, having put in $3,500 during the filing period through Oct. 22. Koeppen's only other reported contribution was $500 from the La Cañada Flintridge Republican Club.

Broberg's total contributions of $13,195 include a $500 donation during this last filing period from the Friends of Anthony Portantino 2010, as well as various gifts between $100 and $250 from businessmen and other professionals.

The last filing period also featured a $500 donation to Multari's campaign from the Friends of Anthony Portantino, as well as a $250 gift from La Cañada Flintridge City Councilman Stephen Del Guercio.

Candidate Campaign Contribution Totals and Positions

• Blumenfeld: $14,301.83. He supports improving teacher quality through collaboration and mentorship with established goals, timelines, and regular teacher evaluations as well as greater Board accountability. He supports improved communication between the Board and the community.

• Broberg: $13,195. She supports "prudent budgeting", appropriate class sizes, "productive use of facilities," and continued strengthening of administrative and teaching staffs.

• Multari: $12,911.88. She believes in "greater teacher and board accountability to student performance and parent concerns" as well as improved financial clarity at the school board and district levels. She also supports supplemental funding for schools and programs, and would like to provide more "upfront communication" between the board and the community. In this Patch blog she writes about potential solutions to the district's financial hardships.

• Koeppen: $4,150. He believes the community to be the school system's best resource for ideas and action. Along with fiscal guidance, Koeppen supports technology such as electronic books and collaborative software distributed through a local intranet, providing a way to lower class sizes while increasing learning resources.