School reform votes translate into campaign dollars

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Legislature’s approval of a controversial overhaul of poorly performing schools has added some heat to the battle over who will be California’s next schools chief, and apparently some money too. [Updated at 11:57 a.m.: An earlier posting mentioned a Democratic primary for state superintendent. The race is a nonpartisan race]

Those competing in the June primary for superintendent of public instruction include Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), who was a leading opponent of the state’s ‘Race to the Top’ education bills, and Sen. Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles), the top advocate for the measures.

The legislation signed by the governor last month gives parents more power to transfer their children from badly performing campuses and petition for fixes that could include converting campuses into independently operated charter schools.

The measures were opposed by the California Teachers Assn. and the California Federation of Teachers. The federation reported giving Torlakson’s campaign $12,900 last year, according to financial reports filed this week. Romero’s campaign got help from supporters of the education bills, including six officers of the California Charter School Assn. and billionaire philanthropist couple Eli and Edythe Broad, charter-school supporters who gave $14,000 to Romero.

In all, Torlakson’s campaign raised $801,000 in 2009, including a $100,000 loan from himself, and ended the year with $314,000 in his campaign account. Romero trailed, having raised $334,000 last year, and finished the year with $290,000 in campaign cash left over.

-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento