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Campaign disclosure statements for the first half of 2012 are now online, providing information on contributions for the two LAUSD board members next up for re-election.  Steve Zimmer‘s fundraising appears not to have really begun in earnest (he’s raised less than $10,000. However, Board President Monica Garcia (pictured) has raised a hefty $100,000, about half of which comes via donations of $1,000, the maximum amount allowed. And, as you can see from the partial list below the fold, Garcia has received at least 30 checks worth $9,400 from charter school operators and employees.

All this is perfectly legal. It is, however, another example of something you see time and again in politics – elected officials receiving contributions from industries they are charged with regulating. Charter schools must be re-approved every five years. The superintendent’s office makes a recommendation but the ultimate decision lies with the board and politics can sometimes intervene to save an underperforming school.

Here are list of charter school employed contributors– at least the ones that I recognized — including $1,450 from Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Pacoima and $3,200 (including three maxed-out checks) from Celerity Educational Group, which runs seven charters. I may have missed a few.

Contributor First Name	Last Name	Title	Employer	Amount
Daniel Liam	Mennis	CIO	Alliance for College Ready Public Schools	100
Clarence	Miller	Principal	Alliance	100
Ena	Lavan	Supervisor	Alliance College Ready Public Schools	100
David	Hyun	CFO	Alliance for College Ready Public Schools	100
Howard	Lappin	Principal	Alliance for College Ready Public Schools	100
Judy Ivie Burton	Ramirez	CEO	Alliance for College Ready Public Schools	300
Ana F.	Ponce	Educator	Camino Nuevo	250
Craig	Knotts	Director of School Services	Celerity Education Group	1000
Vielka	McFarlane	CEO	Celerity Education Group	1000
Miguel	Portillo	Director of Operations	Celerity Education Group	1000
Grace SW Kim	Canada	Director, School Services	Celerity Educational Group	100
Celesta E.	Deter	Educator	Celerity Educational Group	100
J. Kristean	Dragon	CEO	Citizens of the World	100
David	Riddick	Director	Fenton Charter Public Schools	250
Irene	Sumida	School Administrator	Fenton Charter Public Schools	250
Marco	Petruzzi	Executive	Green Dot Public Schools	250
Erica	Gonzalez	Director	Green Dot Public Schools	250
Marcia	Aaron	Executive Director	KIPPLA Schools	1000
Roger A.	Lowenstein	Educator	LA Leadership Academy	250
Alissa B. Goler	Chariton	Educator	Larchmont Charter School	100
Sylvia G.	Fajardo	Executive Director	Pacoima Charter School	250
Martine	Singer	President & CEO	Para Los Ninos	250
Vahe A.	Markarian	Administrator	Santa Monica Blvd. Community Charter School	500
Gerardo	Felix	Educator	Semillas Community Schools	250
Yvonne	Chan	Principal	Vaughn	250
Anarosa	Estevez	Administrator	Vaughn	250
Suzanne N.	Llamas	Administrator	Vaughn	250
Roxane M.	Romero	Personal Coordinator	Vaughn	200
Anita M.	Zepeda	Executive Director	Vaughn	250
Brent	Wozniak	Coordinator	Vaughn Charter	250