Former CMS board member, newcomer hold fundraising lead in school board races
In Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ board races, a former member hoping to get back on the board has outraised the other 17 candidates, according to campaign finance data.
Trent Merchant, who served on the school board from 2006 to 2011, picked up donations from members of the Belk family, Hugh McColl, former chairman and CEO of Bank of America, and other elected officials, en route to his top fundraiser status.
The District 5 candidate has raised more than $36,000, according to third quarter financial reports. The reports, due Nov. 1, detail campaign expenditures and contributions. Finance reports don’t show how an election will turn out, but they can provide insight into who supports a candidate.
Ro Lawsin, a candidate for District 1 and political newcomer, has raised the next-largest amount of about $24,000. More than $3,100 of Lawsin’s donations are from out-of-state residents — mostly from South Carolina. Lawsin attended The Citadel, a military college in Charleston, South Carolina.
Candidates don’t have to file a report if they’ve agreed not to exceed $1,000, said Michael Dickerson, director of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.
District 1 candidate Melissa Easley and District 2 candidate Juanrique Hall are under the threshold.
Fundraising in District 1
Incumbent Rhonda Cheek has raised $5,641 — all of it in the third quarter.
▪ She’s spent $3,983 on operating expenditures — about 71% of the total amount she’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Cheek had $1,407 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: CMS board member Margaret Marshall: $300; George Battle, former CMS general counsel: $100; Ericka Cane, insurance: $500; James Duke, retired: $500; Committee to Elect John Bradford, a state legislator: $250; Beth Ann Garner, retired: $500.
Ro Lawsin has raised the most of any candidate in this five-person race — $24,337 total and $15,001 in the third quarter.
▪ He’s spent $13,391 on operating expenditures — about 55% of the total amount he’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Lawsin had $4,117 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Melissa Gibbs, retired: $500; Gary Johnson, self-employed: $1,000; North Mecklenburg Republican Women’s Club: $300; Michael Wang, EdTech Fund: $500; Angela White, stay-at-home mom: $520; Tony Woodward, owner of AKW Grading: $400. Lisa Harwell, manager of Transportation Professionals, also donated $2,901.11 in campaign signs.
Hamani Fisher has raised $6,563 total — all of it in the third quarter.
▪ He’s spent $2,000 on operating expenditures — about 30% of the total amount he’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Fisher had $4,000 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Rosalind Lewis, financial secretary Bethel Outreach International: $500; Dennis Graham, Truist Bank: $500.
Bill Fountain has raised $6,347 — all of it in the third quarter. Much of it appears to be in-kind contributions from himself for campaign materials.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Fountain had $979 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Jacqueline Hall, retired: $200.
Melissa Easley is under threshold.
Fundraising in District 2
Monty Witherspoon has raised $7,410 — all of it in the third quarter.
▪ He’s spent $1,185 on operating expenditures — about 16% of the total amount he’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Witherspoon had $6,224 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: George Dunlap, chairman of the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners: $200; James Pughsley, former CMS superintendent: $300; Kenneth Robinson, pastor: $1,000; Vilma Leake, county commissioner, $500.
Incumbent Thelma Byers-Bailey’s campaign finance reports weren’t available on the Mecklenburg County or State Board of Elections websites.
Juanrique Hall is under threshold.
Fundraising in District 3
Gregory “Dee” Rankin has raised $12,925 — $4,430 in the third quarter.
▪ He’s spent $9,738 on operating expenditures — about 75% of the total amount he’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Rankin had $3,186 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Sam Bowles, investment management: $1,000; Eric Wilkins, Pamlico investor: $500; Jay Aiken, general contractor: $500; Colette Forest, deputy clerk for the state of North Carolina: $500; Black Political Caucus of Charlotte Mecklenburg: $900; City Council member Lawana Mayfield: $250.
Steven Rushing’s campaign finance reports weren’t available on the Mecklenburg County or State Board of Elections websites.
Fundraising in District 4
Incumbent Carol Sawyer has raised $14,950 — $10,750 in the third quarter
▪ She’s spent $8,102 on operating expenditures — about 54% of the total amount she’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Sawyer had $5,683 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Sandra Conway, consultant: $500; Andrew Dews, physician: $450; Elizabeth Hairgrove, teacher: $400; Margaret Marshall, CMS board member: $300; Laura Meier, county commissioner: $500; NC Democratic Party: in-kind $600; Jennifer 4 Meck, the campaign committee of school board member Jennifer De La Jara: $350
Stephanie Sneed has raised $13,384 — all of it in the third quarter.
▪ She’s spent $5,180 on operating expenditures — 39% of the total amount she’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Sneed had $8,203 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: 12th District Rep. Alma Adams: $500; Malcomb Coley, managing partner Ey Inc.: $1,000; Pat Cotham, county commissioner: $100; Malcolm Graham, Charlotte City Council member: $500; Alicia Griffin, retired: $1,000; Lauren Layne, sales: $1,000; Hugh McColl, retired executive from Bank of America: $1,000.
Clara Kennedy Witherspoon has raised $3,421 — $2,921 in the third quarter.
▪ She’s spent $3,203 on operating expenses — 94% of the total amount she’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Witherspoon had $1,752 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Felisha Kitchen, program director Atrium Health: $500; Ken Eudy, former Gov. Roy Cooper advisor: $500.
Fundraising in District 5
Trent Merchant has raised $36,293 — $17,121 in the third quarter.
▪ He’s spent $30,134 on operating expenditures — about 83% of the total amount he’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Merchant had $4,123 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: John Belk: $1,500; Tim Belk: $1,000; Pete Gorman: $500; Hugh McColl, former president and CEO of Bank of America: $1,000; Russell Ranson, Lemon Tree Lane real estate: $2,500. Margaret Marshall, school board member: $650 total in-kind; Laura Meier, Mecklenburg County BOCC member: $200.
Lisa Cline has raised $9,458 — $7,738 in the third quarter.
▪ She’s spent $4,019 on operating expenditures — about 42% of the total amount she’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Cline had $4,839 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Edmund Driggs, Charlotte City Council member: $250; Rodney Pitts, CEO Southern Elevator: $500.
Fundraising in District 6
Incumbent Sean Strain has raised $21,230 — $15,405 in the third quarter.
▪ He’s spent $19,906 on operating expenditures — about 94% of the total amount he’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Strain had $2,568 cash on hand.
▪ Largest and notable donations: Kenneth Beuley, real estate at the Keith Corporation: $5,000; Hornet’s Nest Republican Mens Club in Indian Trail: $250; Mecklenburg County Republican Executive Committee: $200; NC 14th Congressional District Republican Party: $400; Vinay Patel, hotel development and management: $1,000; V Ryland III, executive: $1,000.
Summer Nunn has raised $9,416 — $6,947 in the third quarter.
▪ She’s spent $6,490 on operating expenditures — about 69% of the total amount she’s raised.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Nunn had $1,789 cash on hand.
▪ Notable donations: Ric Elias, CEO Red Ventures: $2,000; Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, county commissioner: $250. Nunn also received a $1,179 donation from the Committee to Elect Diane Frost Hill, which was created in 2021 for Hill to run for the school board’s District 6 this year. But Hill’s name is not on the ballot
Michael Watson has raised $1,300 — $650 in the third quarter.
▪ He hasn’t spent anything on operating expenditures.
▪ Going into the last few weeks of the election cycle, Watson had $100 cash on hand.
▪ Notable donations: NC Democratic Party: $600.
This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 2:21 PM.
