State Teachers' Union Money Fueled FV, HB Schools Campaigns

The largest special interest group in the state is the California Teachers Association, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, collecting nearly $1 million in the first three weeks of October alone.

The organization turned around and gave half of that money away in that same time period, Oct. 1-20, most of it on one day: Oct. 10.

Which Orange County races in Patch towns were helped out with CTA money? An online financial document reveals the information. 

• Committee to Elect Ian Collins for Fountain Valley School Board, $300. (He won.)

• The Huntington Beach Union High School District Educators Association, $15,000 for the teachers PAC.

• Ocean View Teachers Association PAC, $4,000.

• Westminster Teachers Association PAC Political Action Group for Education, $3,000.

• The Capistrano Unified School District teachers’ union political action committee. The CTA donated $14,870 to the Capistrano Unified Education Association’s Help Organize for Children PAC. It was the statewide group’s first donation of the year.

• Ginny Aitkens for Saddleback Valley Unified School Board, $1,500 (she won.)

• Don Sedgwick for Saddleback Unified School Board 2012, $1,500. (He won.) 

• Suzie Swartz for Saddleback Valley Unified School Board 2012, $1,500 (She won.)