OCEAN CITY — Developer Eustace Mita has put $5,000 toward candidates for the Board of Education this year, state election finance reports show.
The contribution went to the slate of Robin Shaffer, Catherine Panico and Elizabeth Nicoletti, according to details posted by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.
State law requires campaign contributions of more than $200 to be reported.
The maximum that can be contributed to a campaign in a single election cycle from an individual or company is $5,500, according to the state website.
Panico and Nicoletti are incumbents seeking to return to the board. Shaffer served one year on the board, elected to the remainder of an unexpired term, but then lost his bid for reelection in 2023.
The other incumbent on the ballot in November, Kevin Barnes, is running on a slate with Jennifer Cawley Black and Jennifer Dwyer.
Signs in support of those candidates have begun to appear on lawns around Ocean City.
But the ELEC site does not show any contributions to their campaign.
One slate of candidates in Ocean City says politics has no place in school board elections. The other is aligned with Jack Ciattarelli for governor and Moms for Liberty.
Barnes said Tuesday that the campaign has not accepted any donations, but he added he may make a personal contribution to the campaign before the election.
Shaffer said Mita cares about the city’s schools and community.
Wonderland owner donates to Ocean City BOE candidates
