By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Firms that sought to do business with Cincinnati schools for the district's planned $1 billion construction project contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the district's failed bond-issue campaign.

That's according to a campaign finance report filed last week by Cincinnatians Active to Support Education (CASE), the bond-issue campaign group.

The district's bond counsel, the law firm of Peck Shaffer & Williams, donated more than $4,000, while architects and construction firms working and seeking to work with the district contributed thousands more dollars.

Campaign organizers say the contributions were a small percentage of the total of $560,280 that the group reported raising in pre- and post-election campaign filings.

"We always have to worry about conflict of interest," CASE president Mark Turner said. "Integrity has to be dealt with at all levels, even the appearance of conflict of interest. We try to maintain a position that is above board."

The campaign also received contributions from 166 individuals, he said.

Had voters approved the $480 million issue in November, the school district planned to use the funding to build 35 new schools and renovate 31 more over the next decade.

Among the contributions reported in the campaign group's second filing Thursday:

Peck Shaffer & Williams - $4,250

Realtors Political Action Committee/Ohio - $5,000

URS Corp. Ohio/DNK Architects Inc. - $3,000

URS Corp. - $2,000

Glaserworks - $5,000

Turner Construction Co. - $10,000

Burgess & Niple - $5,000

SFA Architects Inc. - $250 KZF Design - $1,000

E-mail jmrozowski@enquirer.com