Alabama Board of Education races – among Republicans – have raised more than half a million dollars. One candidate alone, Dr. Allen Long, has raised $260,000, according to campaign finance reports through Feb. 26.

Two state school board districts are up for grabs, both assured a Republican winner as there are no Democratic challengers. The winner of the primary will get the job in January. If no candidate in a race receives more than 50% of the votes, a runoff will be held April 16.

The positions do not normally receive much attention or funding.

In the District 7 race, Long is running against Doug Bachuss and Oscar Mann to replace incumbent Belinda McRae. She chose not to run for re-election. Candidates have raised $302,000 and spent $286,000.

In District 3, Ann Eubank, Kelly Mooney, and Charlotte Meadows are running to replace longtime incumbent Stephanie Bell. Candidates have raised is $223,000 and spent $104,500 as of Feb. 26.

In 2022, the most amount of money a candidate raised was $21,000.

Melissa Snowden may still appear on the ballot in some counties but withdrew her candidacy in December.

State board districts cover large sections of the state. Districts were last re-drawn in 2020.

Top 3 fundraisers

Long has raised $260,000 in cash, in-kind and other contributions. Most of his $257,000 in expenditures have been spent on advertising, according to campaign filings.

Long said as a first-time candidate, he didn’t know what to expect.

“I’ve been overwhelmed at the response,” he told AL.com. “My quarter million of funds raised has been very helpful in getting my message out, but honestly I wish I could have raised twice this much.”

Mooney has raised $118,900 in cash, in-kind and other contributions and had spent $40,000 as of Feb. 26. Mooney told AL.com more people are paying attention. “COVID allowed parents a glimpse into their child’s classroom,” Mooney said, “and brought to light the need for changes and involvement.”

Also, she said, “To reach this many voters is expensive and costly.”

Campaign filings show Charlotte Meadows raised $94,000 for her campaign and spent $58,300 through Feb. 26. Meadows told AL.com $11,250 of what was raised she transferred from her campaign funds from her unsuccessful bid to keep her House seat in 2022.

The bulk of the remaining amount is from her personal funds. “I believe education is the most important thing we can do to impact change in Alabama,” Meadows said, “and our kids are worth it to me, so we put personal money into the campaign.”

PACS, large donors

PACs have contributed $111,000 in cash contributions to board candidates through Feb. 26.

Long has raised the highest amount among all candidates from PACs at $68,500. The bulk of that came from a single donation of $50,000 from Alabama Christian Citizens, a PAC administered by state auditor Andrew Sorrell.

Sorrell told AL.com he has known Long for more than a decade, as both have been active in local Republican organizations. “He’s just been a good friend, a big supporter of mine, and decided to run for school board,” Sorrell said. “And I said, ‘Look, I can help you. I know how to do this stuff.’”

ALFA’s PAC, called FARMPAC, is the second-highest contributor, sending $42,500 to two candidates: $17,500 to Long and $25,000 to Mooney. FARMPAC gave an in-kind donation of $22,500 to Mooney as well.

Mooney received $14,500 in PAC money from additional various PACs.

Meadows received a total of $1,500 from two PACs. Doug Bachuss received one PAC donation for $1,000.

The table below shows total contributions and expenses through Feb. 26, 2024. Total contributions includes cash, in-kind and other receipts. Click here if you are unable to see the table.