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    Weaver leads in fundraising for schools chief, but political novice has more to spend | Palmetto Politics

    COLUMBIA — Neither of the GOP’s top-funded candidates vying to lead South Carolina’s K-12 school system has classroom experience, and both need to acquire an advanced degree by November to occupy the office.

    The leader of a conservative thinktank is the apparent choice of GOP politicos and school choice advocates in the party’s six-way bid to be the next education superintendent, according to the latest campaign filings.

    Major backers to Ellen Weaver’s first run for elected office include Meeting Street Schools founder Ben Navarro, Sticky Fingers co-founder Chad Walldorf, bank president Mike Brenan — the current and previous governors’ state Board of Education appointee — and her longtime boss, former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint.

    “Ellen Weaver is the conservative leader Republicans are rallying behind in this race,” said her campaign manager, Ryan Gillespie. “These impressive fundraising numbers demonstrate the deep level of conservative support she is already receiving from all over the state.” 

    But personal loans have put another candidate, Lowcountry businessman Travis Bedson, in the lead on cash available to spend.

    Weaver, president of Palmetto Promise Institute, raised nearly $140,000 in the last three months, ending the quarter with $209,400 in the bank. But Bedson, a political novice, took out two loans March 31 totaling $250,000, giving him a balance of $257,500, according to filings due April 10. 

    “We’re going to do what it takes to win,” Bedson, CEO of the construction company CNT Foundations, told The Post and Courier on April 11. “I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is.”  

    Neither Weaver nor Bedson has a master’s degree, a new qualification for the job required by an almost-forgotten 2018 law.

    Both say they enrolled in online programs last month to get an advanced degree before Election Day in November — Weaver through Utah-based Western Governors University and Bedson through Minnesota-based Capella University. She’s pursuing a master’s in leadership. He’s pursuing a master’s in industrial organizational psychology. 

    And neither has been a teacher. 

    But while Weaver touts her six years as an appointee on the Education Oversight Committee as preparation, saying it’s allowed her to dig deep into K-12 policy, Bedson criticizes that as too much time in the system. He insists zero training in education is necessary for the job.  

    “I have a real-world degree in business. This is an executive administrative position,” which means managing budgets and holding people accountable, he said. Teachers are “the salt of the earth, but I don’t think they learn anything about executive leadership when they’re learning how to teach.”

    The father of a 3-year-old and 10-month-old said he’s pursuing the job to create “an education system my kids can be part of.”  

    Another member of the GOP field but with decades of experience and a master’s degree said both frontrunners send students the wrong message. 

    “I am not and will not buy this position,” said Greenville County school board member Lynda Leventis-Wells, who’s taught in South Carolina and abroad, as well as coached soccer and basketball in high school and college. “We are sending the wrong message if it’s ‘money talks,’ and you don’t meet the qualifications, but you’re going to buy your way in.” 

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    Leventis-Wells, who entered the race two months ago, is way down on the money race. She’d raised $7,500 total by March 31 and had $3,400 in the bank, according to her filings with the state Ethics Commission.  

    She said she’s just now starting to raise money. 

    “I’m doing this the right way and will continue to do it the right way,” she said. 

    Kathy Maness, longtime director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, is third in cash available to spend, at $87,700, after raising nearly $76,000 last quarter, according to her filings.

    “Of the qualified candidates, I’ve raised the most money with small donations from South Carolinians all over the state,” said the former teacher, who holds a master’s degree in early childhood education. “I’m excited to see the support I’m getting from our teachers throughout South Carolina.” 

    She notes that 69 percent of her donations are $100 or less. 

    Weaver, meanwhile, received donations of $3,500 — the maximum per donor in an election cycle — from 23 people or businesses last quarter alone. 

    Maximum donors last quarter included Walldorf, who worked for former Gov. Mark Sanford. Brenan and his wife gave a combined $7,000. Navarro, the Charleston billionaire who founded Meeting Street Schools, his wife, and two of his companies sent $14,000 total. DeMint, Weaver’s boss until he left office and founded the thinktank for her to lead, gave $2,000.   

    Other standouts include David Wilkins, the former South Carolina House speaker and U.S. ambassador to Canada, and former state Superintendent Mick Zais.

    The first Republican to enter the race last year, Lexington elementary school teacher Kizzi Gibson, had $3,900 cash available March 31, after raising $6,300 last quarter.  

    Florence One school board member Bryan Chapman, a pastor, has not turned in a fundraising report. While reports were due April 10, candidates have a five-day grace period before late fees start. 

    The job has attracted the most candidates of any statewide office since Superintendent Molly Spearman, who holds two advanced degrees in education, announced last fall she would not seek a fourth term. 

    The three Democrats in the race also had not yet submitted quarterly reports by April 11. 

    The primaries are June 14.  

      

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