FCCPS school board candidate donations arms race

[Anonymous]

These have to be setting records:

1. Ilya Shapiro - https://www.vpap.org/committees/380700/shapiro-for-falls-church-school-board-ilya/

2. Lori Silverman - https://www.vpap.org/committees/380887/silverman-for-falls-church-school-board-lori/

Ilia’s top donor appears to be a friend of his (at least they published an article together 14 years ago; https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/weekly-standard/a-step-in-the-right-direction). Can’t readily tell why his second most generous donor is supporting him; appears to be a car dealer in Atlanta. He appears to be getting donations from all over the country; https://www.vpap.org/committees/380700/top-donors/out-of-state/map/?start_year=2021&end_year=2021&contrib_type=all.

Lori’s top donors are various unions. Her donations appear to be coming primarily from DC; https://www.vpap.org/committees/380887/top-donors/out-of-state/map/?start_year=2021&end_year=2021&contrib_type=all.

A cursory inspection of donations to FCC political candidates shows that most candidates appear supported by friends and family; https://www.vpap.org/localities/falls-church-city-va/elections/. This perhaps better explains Ilya’s donations, given that he has a National profile and is receiving donations from individuals. With respect to the unions supporting Lori, I can’t see from public information that they (or really any union) has ever been interested in FCC school board candidates.

Have fun exploring the new data.

[Anonymous]

Did you notice his $44 meal at Plaka with a City Council member on July 21?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you notice his $44 meal at Plaka with a City Council member on July 21?

I did not. But looking at the data, he has had a couple meetings with current and former school board and city counsel members. What is that suggesting to you? Seems like due diligence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you notice his $44 meal at Plaka with a City Council member on July 21?

I did not. But looking at the data, he has had a couple meetings with current and former school board and city counsel members. What is that suggesting to you? Seems like due diligence.

Yes it’s due diligence if he uses campaign funds to pay for it that he should report it. But he could also just pay for it out of pocket.

And maybe it’s because I usually get the $9.75 Plaka Gyro so it seems like it’s an expensive meal for the place, but maybe he got the $34.95 whole roasted chicken or is a very generous tipper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you notice his $44 meal at Plaka with a City Council member on July 21?

I did not. But looking at the data, he has had a couple meetings with current and former school board and city counsel members. What is that suggesting to you? Seems like due diligence.

Yes it’s due diligence if he uses campaign funds to pay for it that he should report it. But he could also just pay for it out of pocket.

And maybe it’s because I usually get the $9.75 Plaka Gyro so it seems like it’s an expensive meal for the place, but maybe he got the $34.95 whole roasted chicken or is a very generous tipper.

It’s me again, Sorry I didn’t mean to bring up a minor point. I do think it’s a shame that people think they have to raise a lot of money to run for a local election. Also it does beg the question of who are you accountable and responsive to when you get so much money from outside the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you notice his $44 meal at Plaka with a City Council member on July 21?

I did not. But looking at the data, he has had a couple meetings with current and former school board and city counsel members. What is that suggesting to you? Seems like due diligence.

Yes it’s due diligence if he uses campaign funds to pay for it that he should report it. But he could also just pay for it out of pocket.

And maybe it’s because I usually get the $9.75 Plaka Gyro so it seems like it’s an expensive meal for the place, but maybe he got the $34.95 whole roasted chicken or is a very generous tipper.

It’s me again, Sorry I didn’t mean to bring up a minor point. I do think it’s a shame that people think they have to raise a lot of money to run for a local election. Also it does beg the question of who are you accountable and responsive to when you get so much money from outside the community.

I agree, that’s why I did some digging on the top donors. I understand that candidates may be supported by friends and family from far away, perhaps with generous donations, and that seems ok if the donor has been successful and the friendship is lasting. I also get that locals are interested. I don’t understand why the unions are suddenly interested. I’m also skeptical of big donations from non-locals that aren’t obviously friends / family.

[Anonymous]

I’m thinking this explains lori’s Union donations
https://loriksilverman.com/


That being said there is a double standard being employed. Lori is also getting a lot of outside money and support. Benton et all are okay with that (and endorsed her) bc they agree with the left wing politics. But when Ilya runs he’s obviously trying to infiltrate the schools with Koch money,…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m thinking this explains lori’s Union donations
https://loriksilverman.com/


That being said there is a double standard being employed. Lori is also getting a lot of outside money and support. Benton et all are okay with that (and endorsed her) bc they agree with the left wing politics. But when Ilya runs he’s obviously trying to infiltrate the schools with Koch money,…

I don’t see how the unions are interested in the FCC school board. Further, unlike Ilya’s friends supporting him (who may truly express disinterested generosity toward him), I’d think a union has a fiduciary duty to its members. So why are they donating? The FCC school board won’t influence anything of significance for the plumbers and pipe layers. Is their support just a political pay back / calling in of chits?

[Anonymous]

The union donations are weird.