MANKATO — Incoming Mankato Area School Board member Elizabeth Hanke and returning incumbent Liz Ratcliff topped campaign spending and donations among elected district candidates this fall.
Both candidates also received assistance from organizations based outside of the Mankato area, according to campaign finance reports released on the district’s website this month.
Campaign finance reports are required when candidates spend or receive more than $750.
Hanke’s total contributions were $3,780, with $1,605 coming from herself, according to listed line items in her campaign finance report.
Hanke, the only newcomer — elected to fill Kristi Schuck’s soon-to-be vacant spot — kicked off her campaign with $1,750 in contributions in August. Those included $1,500 in loans from her business, Kato Escape.
Her August spending totaled $1,193.13, which included $50 for campaign support from the Minnesota Parents Alliance.
The group, based out of Wayzata, is known to advocate for “parents’ rights” with ties to conservative organizations.
Hanke told The Free Press earlier this year that the contribution allowed her to access Zoom meetings organized by the Alliance to connect with experienced board members who’ve won campaigns.
Hanke also worked with GoodParty.org, according to her reports. Their website describes their service as not a political party but an organization that works to “provide the structure, grassroots support, and tools to make it possible to run a winning campaign without the baggage and habits of the two major parties.”
Hanke, like the other seven board candidates, ran as a nonpartisan candidate, but campaigns drew recommendations or endorsements from partisan organizations, outside organizations or both.
In an emailed statement to The Free Press, Hanke said: “The best return on investment I received in my campaign came from working with Good Party. My campaign manager kept me on track and provided invaluable advice during challenging times, which made all the difference.”
She continued, “Minnesota Parents Alliance has also been a tremendous source of encouragement.”
Hanke also raised another $1,730 from Aug. 30 to Oct. 24, and an additional $300 from Oct. 26 to Dec. 5, according to campaign finance reports. She spent about $900 over the same two periods.
The number and nature of groups weighing in on a local School Board race marked a tone shift in the Mankato area this year. It reflects the increased focus on and polarization in board races around the country.
Meanwhile, incumbent Ratcliff raised $1,875. Her first report showed $1,275 in contributions. She later received an additional $600 donation from The Six PAC.
The Six PAC, an outside organization supporting progressive Democrats, endorsed Ratcliff for another term to “safeguard the district from ‘parents’ rights’ extremists who seek to disrupt a thriving district with culture war nonsense and eliminate equity policies as well as protections for LGBTQ+ students,” according to a Facebook post by the group.
Ratcliff said she hoped to get a donation from the PAC because of their support for public education and filled out a questionnaire to receive it.
Ratcliff spent over $1,220 throughout her campaign.
“I just felt like the stakes were high. School board campaigns have changed and not necessarily for the better, but they have,” she said.
“The last time I ran, I did not raise or spend enough money to have to file a report, but again just kind of keeping up with things that are happening around me and other candidates, I felt like I did not want to go down without a fight, I guess. I felt it was important to defend this seat.”
Erin Roberts, who was reelected to her seat, received a total of $1,233.
Her initial report showed $1,009.43 in contributions and that she spent $814.38. Her final report indicated $224 in contributions and spending.
Incumbent Christopher Kind, who was reelected, did not spend or receive enough to be required to file spending reports.