Follow The Money
Many people wonder about -- or are unaware of -- the extent to which the MEA is involved in local districts. While we are believers in the theory that support contributions from a PAC come after beliefs are aired through a candidate interview process or votes are made, it is important to point out which board members in Michigan share the MEA's philosophy of expending tax dollars in school districts. And, clearly, the intent of investing in candidates is to put union-friendly people on school boards and maintain that sympathetic ear when the tough votes are being weighed.
Below is our running list of board members by district, their position on the board, and the amount they have received. We also have a list of the penalties the MEA PACs have incurred due to negligent staff and missed reporting deadlines.
This list may not be complete due to the extent to which the MEA attempts to confuse people with their 20 individually-registered Political Action Committees. The information is gathered from reports since January 2003.
|
School District |
Name |
Position on Board |
Term Ends |
Amount |
|
Adrian |
Cullin Brown |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$250.00 |
|
Adrian |
LauraBearden |
Secretary |
June 2010 |
$250.00 |
|
Alpena |
Michael Barnett |
Treasurer |
November 2008 |
$100.00 |
|
Alpena |
David Ness |
Trustee |
December 2007 |
$250.00 |
|
Anchor Bay |
Heather Bade |
Trustee |
June 2011 |
$250.00 |
|
Anchor Bay |
Charles Medley |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$200.00 |
|
Ann Arbor |
Helen Gates-Bryant |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$1,500.00 |
|
Ann Arbor |
Karen Cross |
President |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Ann Arbor |
Glenn Nelson |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Bay City |
Pauline Helmling |
Treasurer |
June 2008 |
$500.00 |
|
Bay City |
Patrick O'Shea |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Bay City |
Ben Gibson |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$500.00 |
|
Bay City |
Kenneth Malkin |
Vice President |
June 2011 |
$500.00 |
|
Bay City |
Marie McFarland |
President |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Bedford |
Dale Barton |
Trustee |
June 2008 |
$400.00 |
|
Bellaire |
Carl Stahl |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$200.00 |
|
Bellaire |
Scott Steiner |
President |
June 2009 |
$200.00 |
|
Benzie |
Katherine Ross |
Trustee |
December 2009 |
$300.00 |
|
Bridgeport |
RaeAnn Cronk |
Secretary |
June 2008 |
$200.00 |
|
Bridgeport |
Martha Sageman |
Treasurer |
June 2008 |
$200.00 |
|
Bridgeport Spaulding |
Dick Pope |
Trustee |
June 2011 |
$200.00 |
|
Bridgeport Spaulding |
Marvin Morris |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$200.00 |
|
Bridgeport Spaulding |
Michelle Ziemer |
President |
June 2009 |
$200.00 |
|
Bullock Creek |
Allen Richard |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$224.55 |
|
Camden Frontier |
David LoPresto |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$200.00 |
|
Center Line |
Shannon Boccomino |
Trustee |
June 2013 |
$600.00 |
|
Center Line |
Chris Doebler |
Treasurer |
June 2010 |
$300.00 |
|
Center Line |
Debra Ogden |
Trustee |
June 2008 |
$300.00 |
|
Center Line |
Robert Tusset |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$300.00 |
|
Chippewa Valley |
Denise Aquino |
President |
June 2011 |
$500.00 |
|
Chippewa Valley |
Frank Bednard |
Secretary |
June 2009 |
$1,000.00 |
|
Chippewa Valley |
Henry Chiodini |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Chippewa Valley |
Kenneth Pearl |
Treasurer |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Chippewa Valley |
George Sabah |
Trustee |
June 2011 |
$500.00 |
|
Clare |
Karen Keesecker |
Trustee |
June 2011 |
$400.00 |
|
Clare |
Richard Shively |
Trustee |
June 2008 |
$299.50 |
|
Clio |
Pam Sprague |
Trustee |
June 2008 |
$464.00 |
|
Clio |
Robert Stuart |
Trustee |
June 2008 |
$318.00 |
|
Constantine |
Charles Colley |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$500.00 |
|
Corunna |
Maureen Stanley |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$300.00 |
|
Corunna |
Brenda Walworth |
Secretary |
June 2010 |
$27.18 |
|
Eaton Rapids |
Debbie Brinson |
Secretary |
December 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Fenton |
Richard Des Jardins |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$260.00 |
|
Gibraltar |
Jennifer Coleman-Hesson |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$500.00 |
|
Gibraltar |
Linda Cox-Szakaly |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$500.00 |
|
Gibraltar |
Tim Dean |
Vice President |
June 2008 |
$325.00 |
|
Gibraltar |
Laura Elton |
President |
June 2008 |
$325.00 |
|
Gibraltar |
James Crapko |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Grand Ledge |
Lewis Gentry |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$1,000.00 |
|
Grand Rapids |
Lisa Hinkel |
Vice President |
June 2011 |
$250.00 |
|
Grand Rapids |
Kenneth Hoskins |
President |
June 2008 |
$250.00 |
|
Grand Rapids |
Luis Pena |
Secretary |
June 2008 |
$250.00 |
|
Grand Rapids |
Amy McGlynn |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$200.00 |
|
Grand Rapids |
James Rinck |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$250.00 |
|
Grand Rapids |
Arneada Smith-Alexander |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$250.00 |
|
Harbor Springs |
Timothy Davis |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$100.00 |
|
Harbor Springs |
Rob Fuhrman |
President |
June 2010 |
$99.99 |
|
Hartland |
Cindy Sinelli |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$500.00 |
|
Holton |
Brian Byrnes |
Trustee |
June 2011 |
$500.00 |
|
Houghton Lake |
Dave Harned |
Vice President |
June 2008 |
$500.00 |
|
Ironwood |
Ernest Mattson |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$250.00 |
|
Jefferson |
Richard Kull |
Secretary |
June 2010 |
$200.00 |
|
Kalamazoo |
Patti Sholler-Barber |
Trustee |
June 2010 |
$250.00 |
|
Kenowa Hills |
Frank Hammond |
Trustee |
June 2009 |
$500.00 |
|
Kentwood |
Steve Dabrowski |
Trustee |
June 2008 |
$250.00 |
|
Kentwood |
David Schultz |
Trustee |
June 2008 |
$250.00 |
|
Lakeview |
Dan Dombrowski |
|
