Sacramento teachers union’s pricey endorsements yield mixed election results

The Abridged version:

• The Sacramento City Teachers Association took on charter school interests in this year’s county-level school board races. The union’s support produced mixed results.
• Annie Fischer, an SCTA-backed candidate, has a narrow lead over the incumbent Paul Keefer. Davon Thomas, the second union endorsee, finished third and well below Dominique Donette, who has a significant lead.
• A candidate who received neither teacher union nor charter proponent support said she was surprised and disappointed by the outsized spending in a local education election.

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The Sacramento Teachers Association took on charter school advocates in this year’s county-level school board races, and two weeks after Election Day, results show the union’s high-dollar endorsements did not produce surefire victories.

One endorsee, Annie Fischer, leads by 131 votes against incumbent Paul Keefer.

The second, Davon Thomas, is more than 6,000 votes behind the expected winner, Dominique Donette. Election results become official July 2.

In its mission to fill two seats of the Sacramento County Board of Education with labor-friendly trustees, the local teachers union contributed roughly $377,000 combined to Fischer and Thomas.

The union, its candidates and dollars were up against the Charter Public Schools Political Action Committee. The California charter advocates spent a little more than $225,000 on support for Donette and Keefer.

The county board, responsible for the education of about 30,000 students, oversees 13 school districts and the Los Rios Community College District. It also operates a handful of schools.

‘A run for its money’

What is typically an overlooked down-ballot race this year became a magnet for big spending by interest groups.

Donette received about $120,000 from the statewide charter advocates, plus thousands in individual donations from pro-charter figures like former mayor and St. HOPE Public Schools founder Kevin Johnson.

The Sacramento Teachers Association was hoping to give the charter school association “a run for its money,” according to its president Nikki Milevsky.

Union-backed candidate Thomas fell short of that goal, despite the more than $200,000 he received that went toward campaign costs like brochures, postcards, canvassing and photography.

The teachers association had better luck in the race between Fischer and Keefer. The race was still too close to call as of Monday, but Fischer narrowly grew her lead over the course of election updates last week.

“We were happy to be able to give them some challenge,” Milevsky said.

No charter or union support

Anna Molander Hermann came in second between Donette and Thomas, with a comparably modest $25,000 in contributions, according to campaign filings.

Having not received backing from the teachers union or charter advocates, Molander Hermann said she was shocked to see the dollar figures.

“The biggest disappointment was finding out just how much of a role money plays,” she said.

Still, Molander Hermann had support from local trade unions and California Assemblymember Maggy Krell. Her past three campaigns for the Sacramento City Unified school board gave her name recognition, and when initial results landed Election Day, she held a brief lead over Donette.

Her campaign was creative with the funds they did have, Molander Hermann said, finding ways to be out in the community and meet with voters. Many, she said, were concerned about the extraordinary election spending.

“I think people are really uncomfortable with the amount of money spent,” she said.

County race with school district stakes

The Sacramento Teachers Association has shelled out in past elections, particularly on candidates for the Sacramento City Unified school board.

Leadership helps determine the fate of the school district, something that impacts teachers at all levels and across schools.

“It matters to us so much,” Milevsky said.

At the county level, union leaders saw a need for overhaul, Milevsky said, particularly when it came to charter school oversight. A recent case involving the embattled Highlands charter system highlighted these tensions.

Also, the county board will soon name its new top official, following the retirement of longtime Superintendent Dave Gordon next summer. That vote is expected this month, before the new trustee terms begin.

Should a school district in California enter state receivership — a risk Sacramento City Unified faces with its ongoing multimillion-dollar budget crisis — the county superintendent is responsible for appointing an outside administrator to take charge.

That leadership turnover fueled attention from groups on both sides, Donette said.

“People were paying attention,” she added.

Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.