Micheal Ocello raised and spent the most money of six candidates who sought election to the Mehlville Board of Education last month.

Ocello raised $14,014.31 and spent $14,450.97 in his successful campaign for a Board of Education seat in the April 4 election. Ocello and Tom Diehl were the top vote-getters for two school board seats, defeating four other challengers, including two incumbents who were seeking their second three-year terms.

Diehl received 5,630 votes — 31.05 percent — and Ocello garnered 4,526 votes — 24.96 percent. Theresa (Saunders) Kleusch received 2,797 votes — 15.42 percent — while former board Secretary Mike Heins garnered 1,928 votes — 10.63 percent — and former board Vice President Bill Schornheuser received 1,803 votes — 9.94 percent. Mark Counts received 1,449 votes — 7.99 percent. Of Mehlville’s 62,827 registered voters, 10,438 — 16.61 percent — cast ballots.

Kleusch raised $3,578.31 and spent $3,217.69, while Diehl raised $3,292.18 and spent $5,073.61 in his election bid.

Schornheuser raised $2,172.88 and spent $693.84, while Heins raised $2,100 and spent $1,781.25.

The sixth candidate, Counts, did not file a campaign finance report with the county Board of Election Commissioners. Candidates raising and spending less than $1,000 and not receiving more than $325 from a single contributor are not required to file campaign finance reports, according to state law.

Of the $14,014.31 raised by Ocello, loans he made to his campaign totaled $4,643.95, including $4,000 in loans made from March 24 through April 9 — the period covered by his most recent report. During that period, Ocello received a total of $6,500.36, including the $4,000 in loans.

Among those contributing to his campaign were the Tuxedo Room, $325; the Missouri Association of Club Executives, $300; the Bayshore Apartments, $300; Eric Langan, $300; Travis Reese, $300; Sonny and Ahfeza Ocello, $50; and former Mehlville Board of Education member and Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors Secretary Dave Gralike, $25.

Ocello’s expenditures in his most recent report totaled $8,963.95. Among his expenditures were $2,193.68 to St. Louis Pre-Sort for mailing labels and postage, $2,475 to Silke Design for brochures, $1,869 to the Democratic Strategy Group for telecommunications and get-out-the-vote expenditures and $1,102.80 to the Democratic Strategy Group for telecommunications and get-out-the-vote expenditures.

Of the $3,578.31 raised by Kleusch, $281.31 was received from March 24 through April 29 — the period covered by her most recent report. That $281.31 included a $180.31 payment by Kleusch toward loans she had made to her campaign and $100 in contributions from those giving $100 or less. Kleusch previously had loaned her campaign $2,400.

Kleusch’s expenditures in her most recent report totaled $791.99 for a voters’ list, printing and advertising, including $567 to Call Publishing.

Of the $3,293.18 raised by Diehl, $953.18 was received from March 23 through April 9 — the period covered by his most recent report. That $953.18 included loans totaling $823.18 from Diehl to his campaign and $130 in contributions from those giving $100 or less. Diehl previously had loaned his campaign $225.

Diehl’s expenditures in his most recent report totaled $2,920.50 for automated telephone calls, printing and advertising, including $706 to Call Publishing.

Of the $2,172.88 raised by Schornheuser, $435 was received from March 24 through March 31 — the period covered by his most recent report. That $435 included $100 from Bill Schornheuser Sr., $100 from Dianne Schornheuser, $25 from Bruce and Brenda Griffin and $210 in contributions from those giving $25 or less. Schornheuser previously had loaned his campaign $1,500.

Schornheuser’s expenditures in his most recent report totaled $693.84 for postage and office supplies.

Of the $2,100 raised by Heins, $420 was received from March 24 through March 31 — the period covered by his most recent report. That $420 included a $200 loan from Heins to his campaign, a $200 contribution by former Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors Chairman Tom O’Driscoll and $20 in contributions from those giving $100 or less. Heins previously had loaned his campaign $500.

Heins’ expenditures in his most recent re-port totaled $563 for a U.S. Postal Service permit, postage and a bank fee.