Seven of the eight candidates for Carroll County School Board have chosen to spend less than $1,000 on their campaigns, waging campaigns based on face recognition and sparse signs.
“I guess it?s the economy of the whole thing,” said candidate Ernest Sharff. “I am just a one person organization.”
Candidates who sign an affidavit stating they will not spend more than $1,000 on the campaign do not have to file campaign finance reports.
Sharff has ordered 50 signs, which he expects to arrive on Monday, and is attending various organization meetings around the county.
He said he doubts he?ll spend even $500, and has no plans for radio or television appearances.
The only donation candidate George Maloney has received so far is $75 from a friend to go toward 18 radio spots, which cost less than $100. He is also planning to spend about $240 to purchase 10 signs.
Otherwise, Maloney is relying on endorsements from well-known people in the county such as Orphans? Court Judge Dorothy Utz.
“I am just trying to keep it [to a] minimal expense, so I don?t complicate life,” Maloney said.
Candidate Dan Dekowski said he doesn?t plan to spend any money.
“My interest is in the children so I really don?t have an agenda,” he said. “I know it would be politically smart to court teachers or some other interest group, and I am not going to do that. I am not campaigning really hard.”
Candidate Eric Weber said he has been attending all the school board meetings and meeting with local civic groups.
“I am also working through the personal networking for basically a word of mouth campaign,” he said.
By next week, Weber said he hopes to have his Web site up and running, and he plans to order signs. So far, he has spent $12, and he is not sure what the final total will be. Most donations will come from a few contributors, tied to endorsements that will be announced soon, Weber said.
Incumbent Patricia Gadberry said she has already spent $750 on signs, which she hopes will be going up in the next week or so. Gary Baur, also an incumbent, was the only candidate to file a campaign finance report. He said he has already spent $750 on signs, so he expects to pass the $1,000 mark.
