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Big spread in financing of school-board race
Caswell raises the most cash with the most donors; Dauber effort is mostly self-funded

by Chris Kenrick

School board incumbent Melissa Baten Caswell led and challenger Ken Dauber trailed in fundraising for next month's election for the Palo Alto Board of Education, according to campaign finance reports through Sept. 30.

In the last three months, Caswell received $18,012 in contributions from 71 donors. Challenger Heidi Emberling raised $12,844 from 36 contributors; incumbent Camille Townsend raised $10,079 from 40 donors and Dauber raised $9,657 from 29 donors, which included a $5,697 loan to himself.

The four candidates are vying for three available school board seats in the Nov. 6 election.

Caswell's largest donors, at $500, were former school board member Mandy Lowell, Sue and Lou Pelosi, Heather Rose, Preeva Tramiel and Michael Rantz. Contributions at $400 came from Gary Kremen; at $300 from Claudia and Doug Begg; at $260 from Judy and Todd Logan and at $250 from John Kirchmann, Camilla Olson, Yoriko Kishimoto, Marvina White, Asher Waldfogel and Helyn MacLean, Amy Sung and Wim deGroot, Susan Paul, Hollis Caswell. Barb Mitchell, Dorit and Greg Scharff, Lauren Bonomi and Sarah Sands.

Emberling's largest donor, at $500, was Preeva Tramiel. Contributions at $250 came from Aiofe Maynard, Diana Walsh, Brennan McKenzie, Barb Mitchell, Sarah Sands, Richard Hirsch and Steve Ross.

Townsend's largest donors, at $1,000, were Shan-I Judy Severson and Kathleen Eyre. Contributions at $500 came from Mandy Lowell, Jack Moses and Jim Baer; at $350 from Charles Jacklin; and at $250 from Deborah Peng, Lauren Bonomi, school board member Barb Mitchell and Stephen Smith.

Dauber's campaign has been mostly self-funded, with $5,697 from himself and $3,960 in contributions from others. His largest donors, at $500, were David Bailey and Darren Neuman. Contributions at $200 came from Meri Gruber, Karen Kang, Rajiv Bhateja, Mitchell Polinsky, Greg Schmid and Michael Klausner.

All four candidates reported smaller contributions as well, ranging from $20 to $200.

Complete campaign finance reports are on file with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.