Seven of eight candidates for the Katy ISD Board of Trustees filed their campaign finance reports April 28, with the reports showing that four candidates received either political action committee funds or in-kind services.

Shawn Miller, a college professor seeking position 3, did not file a report. The other two position 3 candidates—Bruce Bradford, a mortgage loan originator, and Amy Thieme, a realtor—filed reports.

The three position 4 candidates—Erica Brettell, a stay-at-home mom; Morgan Calhoun, a stay-at-home mom; and Cicely Taylor, an education administrator—filed reports.

The two position 5 candidates—Mary Ellen Cuzela, a Katy ISD substitute teacher, and Shana Peterson, who is retired—filed reports.

Of the four candidates receiving help from political action committees, or PACs, three are receiving in-kind services from Texans for Educational Freedom, which is based in Austin. Texans for Educational Freedom filed a report with the Texas Ethics Commission detailing its contributions to Thieme, Calhoun and Cuzela. According to this report, the PAC spent $4,875 in advertising expenses for each candidate. Three payments of $1,625 were made on April 8, April 10 and April 12 with Axiom Strategies of Kansas City, Mo., for advertising expenses.

According to its texansforeducationalfreedom.com website, the PAC mission “has the sole purpose of electing freedom-minded officials to school boards to ensure the liberties of our citizens.”

Yet while Texans for Educational Freedom made and reported the contributions, they were not listed on Thieme, Calhoun or Cuzela’s reports.

Meanwhile, Taylor reported that she received a $2,000 donation from leadership for educational equity, of Washington, D. C. According to its educationalequity.org website, LEE (as it is known) is a “nonprofit leadership development organization inspiring & supporting a network of civic leaders to end the injustice of educational inequity.”

Some candidates are receiving support from incumbent trustees. Trustees Victor Perez and Dawn Champagne have endorsed Thieme, Calhoun and Cuzela. Trustee Ashley Vann has contributed $200 to both the Bradford and Peterson campaigns.

Vann holds the position 3 seat. She chose not to seek re-election, as did her two fellow incumbents, position 4 trustee Leah Wilson and position 5 trustee Greg Shulte. This year’s election is the first in recent memory in which no incumbent sought re-election.

Bradford reported $1,400 in contributions and $3,708.80 in expenditures.

Thieme reported $1,280 in contributions and $1,905.87 in expenditures.

Brettell reported $1, 602 in contributions and $1,506.49 in expenditures.

Calhoun reported $680 in contributions and $2,913.51 in expenditures.

Taylor reported $3,100 in contributions and $2,358 in expenditures.

Cuzela reported $1,678.27 in contributions and $1,882.77 in expenditures.

Peterson reported $500 in contributions $2,363.29 in expenditures.

Early voting ended May 2. Election Day is May 6.