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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2007 > December > 14 > Entry
The $41,000 school board defeat
Lee Massoud
Dayton school board member Lee Massoud spent a stunning $41,000 in her failed election campaign this fall, according to campaign finance reports that were released today.
That is a remarkable number. I believe it is likely the most ever spent by one candidate in a Dayton school board race. (Kids First, an alliance of four candidates, topped $200,000 in their 2001 run with a joint campaign committee.) She raised $10,000 the last month of the campaign and loaned her campaign $13,500 from her personal funds.
None of the other six candidates who ran for school board spent even half as much as Massoud.
I was tied up in some training all day today, so look for my colleague Lynn Hulsey’s story in Saturday’s DDN.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By Joe Lacey
December 25, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
Merry Christmas Steve. Months ago I responded to your request for three accomplishments with an updated nondiscrimination policy, empowering neighborhood groups to get involved in the construction program and my work on compliance with the open meeting law. Perhaps you missed that post. Happy New Year.By Joe Lacey
December 23, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Steve I responded to your request weeks ago. If you didn’t like my answer you didn’t tell me why it wasn’t sufficient.By steve
December 17, 2007 7:19 PM | Link to this
I really didn’t do too much research It just seems funny that alot of times when Joe makes a comment Dirk is not far behind. I am sure there are many folks who do such a thing. I guess I did make a pretty strong accusation. Sorry Joe. Still waiting on the other answer though as to your accomplishments as a BOE member.By School Supporter
December 16, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
At face value, “dirk sniggler” certainly has an issue with Miller-Valentine. From google, some dirk sniggler quotes: “Joe Lacey … [questions] the feasibility of gigantic Miller-Valentine contracts on the backs of taxpayers” (October 25, 2007); “I know it’s hard when someone starts to threaten the Miller-Valentine mafia” (November 28, 2007); [Massoud’s] “an employee of Miller-Valentine. That answers everything as to why her supporters loaded her down with so many greenbacks.” (December 15, 2007) I didn’t see the correlation Steve alleges, but I didn’t look hard. Steve’s [implicit] charge that Joe Lacey is an unethical dirty trickster is disconcerting. Perhaps dirk could make himself known?By Mary
December 15, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
“dirk”, your comments make me wonder if they also contributed to my district’s last election and bond vote that barely failed. But then again, maybe they didn’t think they needed to for the ones running, the ones already on the board, and the big construction proposal already up again. It would be interesting if the Dayton Daily News investigated those issues. The book “Cheating our kids- how politics and greed ruin education” talked about the tactics of the school construction business. I think one person in New York was found murdered over school construction, according to that book.By Steve
December 15, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
Is it me or is it everytime Joe Lacey makes a comment so does Dirk Sniggler… What a poor attempt at Dr. Jeckyle and Mr Hyde… LOL don’t worry I’ll keep your secret and I am still waiting on you to answer my question as to what you’ve done for this district that was completely your brainchild that you seen thru to fruition. See ya Dirk erraahh I mean Joe.By Mary
December 15, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
While I do not like to know that people are buying or trying to buy political office and power, it is being done anyway. However, that does not mean her motives were necessarily bad, or good. Our job as voters is to be less gullible to being bought out by expensive political marketing which is essentially driving our democracy into the dirt.By Joe Lacey
December 15, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
As a person who’s been involved in some campaigns, I’m really curious as to what that $41 thousand paid to a political consulting firm got her. All I saw were some yard signs and a mailing. I must have missed something.By dirk sniggler
December 15, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this
She’s an employee of Miller-Valentine. That answers everything as to why her supporters loaded her down with so many greenbacks. You dance with those that brought you. And those that would have brought her to the dance were ready for the prom, I mean, big construction contracts.By Eve
December 15, 2007 6:37 AM | Link to this
I would have preferred the person with proven managerial experience over the party hack who used her dog as an excuse to back out of a public debate. Massaud brought fully thought through plans and solutions to the table. Taylor had plenty of ideas too but no answers where the money to accomplish these big ideas was going to come from. Oh well, perhaps she’ll look to her politician buddies who’ve done such a fine job running the city for help.By charterschoolhater
December 14, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this
What motivates someone to spend that much on a race that pays so little and is so much a thankless job. Could she have been motivated by the prospect of a bigger pay day for herself. I for one am happy she lost. I did not and will never vote for her. Something about her did not seem to be right with her. That is just one voters opinion.