The candidates for the William S. Hart Union High School District Board of Trustees have filed their California Form 460s, which indicates whom they received campaign funds from and how they used those funds.
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The election is slated to be held Nov. 3, 2015 for Trustee Area Number 1, which includes parts of northern Valencia, Castaic and Val Verde, and Trustee Area Number 4, which is mainly comprised of Canyon Country.
Andrew Taban will be running against incumbent Steve Sturgeon for Trustee Area 4, while Linda Storli will be running against incumbent Gloria Mercado-Fortine for Trustee Area 1.
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July 1 to Sept. 19 was the latest filing period for campaign funds for the Nov. 3 election.
Taban, 19-year-old Hart District School Board candidate, has raised more funds for his campaign than the three other candidates for both Trustee Area 1 and 4, according to Los Angeles County Office of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk records.
Taban has raised $13,457 for his campaign, according to the records.
Taban’s biggest contributors are companies outside of the Santa Clarita Valley, including $4,000 from Nationwide Lighting & Electric Supply in Pasadena and $3,500 from Caltect Management, LLC in Downey.
Nationwide Lighting & Electric Supply and Caltect Management are owned by Taban’s family who live locally in the Santa Clarita Valley and the other companies are owned by family friends, he said.
“They’re family friends who are willing to support,” said Taban. “They want to see me succeed, they enjoy what I stand for.”
None of the companies are involved with any construction projects in the Hart District or are bidding on any contracts, Taban said.
Sturgeon will be running against Taban in the Nov. 3 election has raised $9,830 for his campaign, according to the records.
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All of Sturgeon’s funding came from individuals and companies inside of the Santa Clarita Valley, including $3,750 from Williams Communities LLC in Santa Clarita and $1,200 from Lighting Efficiency & Design Inc. in Valencia.
Sturgeon said he believes in beginning a campaign only if he’s willing to take care of the costs.
“I learned quickly that I had family, friends and businesses that shared my objectives for education in the Santa Clarita Valley and they offered to help pay for the cost,” said Sturgeon. “I personally haven’t asked for contributions; I would never want anyone to give one if they preferred not to do so. I do ask that they tell their friends to get out the vote and choose me to ensure a victory. That is the most valuable contribution they can make.”
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Mercado-Fortine will be running against Storli in the Nov. 3 election for the Trustee Area 1 of the Hart District School Board.
Storli has received $5,287 in monetary contributions and has received a $5,100 loan for her campaign, according to the records.
“I am very grateful for every donation,” Storli said. “My contributors are all people or companies that I personally know… I have received no money from outside of this valley, except from family out of town. The people who have contributed to my campaign have done so for the simple reason they want better schools and more successful students.”
Mercado-Fortine has raised $4,142 for her campaign, according to the records.
Mercado-Fortine’s funding for her campaign comes mainly from individuals in the Santa Clarita Valley, including $250 from Chris Ball in Canyon Country, but $2,000 has come from Grow Elect, a political action committee in Sacramento.
“My policy for campaign fundraising is to adhere to the Fair Political Practices Commission regulations, as well as the Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700, to avoid conflicts of interest,” Mercado-Fortine said.
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In every fundraiser I’ve ever done whether for school or Girl Scouts starts with friends and family… the headline of this story leads one to think there’s something wrong with it. I think it’s awesome! His family is invested in his future…