Challengers outraised and spent more than incumbents on election related expenses in the Nov. 2 Board of Trustees race, according to paperwork filed with the Santa Barbara County Elections Office.

Every penny raised and spent must legally be reported to the county and the Secretary of State by three deadlines.

Candidates have until January to file a final report. Filings so far show the incumbents committee raised $22,632 and the challengers collected $24,781.

The challengers’ committee officially called the Citizens For Community Trustees for Santa Barbara City College, spent $24,218.

The committee, also known as ‘Citizens for Change,’ helped Marty Blum, Peter Haslund, Marsha Croninger, and Lisa Macker with fundraising as well as get $8,841 in nonmonetary contributions such as party hosting and video editing.

$17,829 went to print ads and other campaign materials. $1600 went to a local publisher of campaign literature called the Voter Information Guide.    

“I am not aware of what the incumbents spend.” said R.W. Zeigler, treasurer for the challengers’ committee. “I know we advertised with The Daily Sound, The Independent, and the local news stations,” adding that “every little bit helps.” 

Hector Gonzalez-Llera and Martha Peyton from the Santa Barbara election office made sure candidates filed the current paperwork by the appropriate deadlines.

Gonzalez-Llera said that television advertising plays an instrumental role in reaching voters, especially those who are undecided. He also said it is one of the most expensive costs during a campaign.

“If you advertise on television commercials, radio, and handing out flyers; you have a great chance of getting a vote,” said Gonzalez-Llera. “Advertising is really critical for them.”

Meanwhile, the incumbents committee, chaired by James Duncan and known as ‘Friends of SBCC,’ raised $22,632, slightly less than the challengers over the same time span.  They spent $16,484, almost $10,000 less.  

Duncan says the accumulated donations increased confidence when advertising on television.

“We advertised on television, radio, and flyers,” said Duncan, who overseas all incoming contributions for the incumbents. “Everyone worked hard to get their votes.”

The incumbents did receive a last minute round of donations totaling $6,000. This included a $3,000 donation from Leatrice Luria, the widow of former trustee and benefactor Eli Luria.

Fellow incumbents Kathryn Alexander and Sally Green each contributed $1,000 to help themselves and fellow incumbents Joe Dobbs and Desmond O’Neill.

In addition, Morris Jurkowitz, who is also on the current board but was not up for re-election, provided a $5,000 loan.