Challenger Kostyuk Outpaces Incumbent Forcina In Elk Grove School Board Race

September 29, 2016 |  

In a bit of a role reversal, a challenger has outpaced an incumbent in fundraising for an Elk Grove area race.

The challenger, in this case, is Nikita Kostyuk (pictured above) who is taking on incumbent Carmine Forcina for the Area 7 seat on the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees.

In disclosure statements filed today with Sacramento County, Kostyuk reported that he raised $17,894, of which $2,018 was in non-monetary contributions, for the period between January 1 and September 24, 2016.

All 19 listed monetary donations on his disclosure were from individuals including the candidate who contributed, rather than loaned, his campaign $8,500. Had Kostyuk loaned himself the money, he could have repaid himself the loan from future fundraising. 

For the period between July 1 and September 24, Forcina listed 19 contributions totaling $8,520, of which 17 were individuals. Forcina also loaned his campaign $4,000, which he can repay himself.

An examination of the candidates expenditures also reveals a generational difference between the 21-year old Kostyuk, who advocates for charter schools, and Forcina, who is a retired Assistant Superintendent of the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Forcina, who has several signs already displayed within district boundaries, has spent $670 for signs and $700 on print advertising in the Elk Grove Citizen. Conversely, to date Kostyuk, has spent $5,012 on literature, and $549 on three expenditures for two different campaign apps. 

Kostyuk also expended $445 for an election night party at Elk Grove's Falls Event Center.