School advocate Michelle Popp Shimberg released quarterly fundraising numbers today reporting more than $56,000 in donations to her Hillsborough County School Board, District 2 campaign.
Since beginning her campaign in mid-July, the Tampa resident raised $56,743 through September 30. Shimberg received 271 separate donations, averaging $212.50 each.
Shimberg is seeking the seat vacated by 20-year school board veteran Candy Olson. She faces competition in 2014 from both Sally Harris and Michael Weston, each of whom have current financial reports pending.
Strong support for Shimberg’s campaign came from the Tampa Bay legal community, with nearly 60 donors listed as attorneys totaling more than $12,700, including a $500 check from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. She received $6,100 from a variety of auto dealerships and related businesses.
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn also gave a check for $250. Former University of South Florida president and Sen. Betty Castor gave $500.
Shimberg considers the outpouring of support as a clear sign of the broad support for her candidacy, which she bases on her record of two decades of leadership in education issues.
“I am both honored and humbled at this outpouring of support,” the candidate said in a filing announcement. “I view these contributors not just as donors but as community stakeholders that recognize the importance of – and care as deeply as I do about — public education.”
Shimberg has been a longtime advocate for public school children in Hillsborough County, serving 18 years on the Citizen Advisory Committee to the School Board as chair, vice-chair and scholarship chair. She also served two terms as national president of Delta Delta Delta, a women’s fraternal organization with more than 150,000 members, where she supervised a multi-million dollar budget.
For more information about Shimberg’s District 2 campaign, visit www.votemichelleshimberg.com.
