This story was corrected on 6/8/2024 to reflect that April Harvey was the largest individual contributor to a campaign, other than the candidates themselves.
HAGERSTOWN, MD News (6/8/2024) – As the Washington County Board of Education primary elections for 2024 draw to a close, a detailed examination of the campaign finance reports for 2024 reveals a varied landscape of financial backing among the candidates. While not all candidates have yet reported any campaign contributions, those who have provided insight into the financial dynamics influencing this local election. Undoubtedly additional contributions will be recorded in the coming months as we approach the general election in November.
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Examining the Candidates
Charles A. Burkett
Charles A. Burkett’s campaign received contributions from several individuals and one political club. Mary Jane Guessford, Jacqueline Crabtree, the Washington County Republican Club PAC, Elijah Burkett, Jeremiah Dewolf, Robert Rider, and Karen Dunstan were among the contributors.
Burkett’s campaign received a modest yet steady flow of contributions in 2024, amounting to a total of $770.00 from seven contributors. The average contribution to Burkett’s campaign was $110.00. The highest contribution came from the Washington County Republican Club PAC, located in Hagerstown, MD, donating $250.00. The contributions primarily came from individual donors, with one contribution from a political club. Notably, the methods of contributions varied, including checks, cash, and credit card payments, reflecting diverse support mechanisms within the community.
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Ashley McCusker
Ashley McCusker’s campaign saw significant contributions in 2024 from a variety of sources. Contributors included William Kesler, Daniel Parsons, the Washington County Republican Club PAC, Deborah Cohill, Michael Barnes (Treasurer for the Washington County Republican Central Committee), Mary Jane Guessford, Jeffrey A. Cline (currently a County Commissioner for Washington County), James Leroy Greuber III, and Guessford 16 LLC (which is owned by current Board of Education member Mike Guessford).
McCusker’s campaign stood out in terms of total funds raised, collecting $2,450.00 from sixteen contributors, making the average contribution approximately $153.13. McCusker has contributed $1,000.00 to her own campaign so far, significantly bolstering the campaign finances. The majority of contributions were made by individuals, with the remainder from a political club, self-contributions by the candidate, and one business organization. All contributions were received via check, indicating a conventional approach to campaign financing. Also of note, McCusker was the only candidate with out-of-state support through a $100 contribution from Daniel Parsons from Greencastle, PA. McCusker was also the highest overall contributor to any campaign.
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Robin Merchant
Robin Merchant’s campaign received a single contribution from Linda J. Murray, who is currently a Washington County Board of Education member.
Merchant’s campaign saw limited financial activity, raising a total of $100.00. This minimal financial backing suggests either a late start in fundraising or a strategy focused on low-cost campaigning.
April Zentmeyer
April Zentmeyer’s campaign received substantial contributions from individual donors. Contributors included April Harvey, Valerie Novak, Carol Brashears, and Constance Lenhart.
Zentmeyer’s campaign reported contributions totaling $1,300.00 from five individual donors, with an average contribution of $260.00. The top contribution of $600.00 came from April Harvey in Smithsburg, MD, showcasing significant local support. Contributions were primarily made via checks, with one cash contribution, indicating a mix of traditional and immediate financial support.
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Nancy Evans
Nancy Evans’ campaign received contributions from a variety of individuals. Contributors included George Stein, Nancy Mcloughlin, Karen Radelev, Tom Banks, Jim Ide, Ed Peters, and Leon Albin. Additionally, Nancy Lee Evans made three contributions to her own campaign. The top contributor to Evans’ campaign was Evans herself.
Evans’ campaign for the 2024 primary election received a total of $1,045.00 from 10 contributions, averaging $104.50 per contribution. The majority of the contributions came from individuals, with seven contributions, while Nancy Evans herself made three contributions. Most of the contributions were made via check, with one contribution made in cash. This financial support highlights a combination of personal investment and community backing for Evans’ campaign. However, Evans did not receive enough votes to advance to the general election in November.
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Looking at the Bigger Picture
Notably, the Washington County Republican Club PAC contributed a total of $500 to Board of Education candidates, with $250 each contributed to Burkett and McCusker, indicating conservative support of both candidates. No other PACs contributed to candidates in 2024 before the election primaries. April Harvey, from Smithsburg, was the largest individual contributor (excluding the candidates themselves), with her $600 contribution to April Zentmeyer.
The campaign finance landscape for the 2024 Washington County Board of Education primaries demonstrates a range of fundraising capabilities among the candidates. Nancy Evans, Charles A. Burkett and April Zentmeyer showed moderate financial support, with the highest contributions coming from within Washington County, reflecting a strong local backing. Ashley McCusker emerged as the frontrunner in terms of total funds raised, with significant individual contributions. In contrast, Robin Merchant’s campaign was marked by minimal financial activity, potentially indicating a different strategic focus or a delayed fundraising effort. It is worth noting however, that Michael P. Keifer, Ethan Loewen, Victoria Beachley, Pieter Bickford, Stan Stouffer, and Melissa Williams do not appear to have raised funds in 2024 prior to the primaries. Nancy Lee Evans, Michael P. Keifer, and Ethan Loewen did not receive enough votes to advance beyond the primaries.
It is notable that the data available from Maryland’s Campaign Finance Reporting System highlights only a subset of candidates, suggesting that other Board of Education candidates may have yet to commence their fundraising efforts or report their contributions, or are relying on existing funds from previous campaign cycles. As the primary election has now concluded, it is anticipated that additional financial reports will become available, offering a more comprehensive picture of the financial underpinnings of this important local election.
Story by multiple RFHC contributors. All data in this article is based upon publicly available data at the State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Database.
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