Elections B.C. has released disclosure and contributions summaries of the 2018 municipal election.
On the disclosure forms, candidates had to provide financial records for the election period, Jan. 1 to Sept. 21, 2018, and the campaign period, Sept. 22 to Oct. 20, 2018.
Below is a summary of what both mayoral candidates and each elected councillor spent, and who their largest non-familial donor or donors were. For expense categories, both time periods have been combined.
Mayor Kevin Murdoch‘s campaign cost $18,977.89.
Murdoch spent $15,893.70 over the campaign period and another $3,084.19 during the election period. His biggest expense was “brochures, pamphlets and flyers” totalling $7,450.50. He also spent more than $4,000 each on “signs and billboards,” and “newspaper, magazine and journal” advertisements. His largest individual contributor is listed as Paula Carey, who donated $1,200 on Feb. 8, 2018.
Former Mayor Nils Jensen was the biggest spender with a campaign cost of $21,284.25.
Of that, $14.846.89 was spent during the campaign, and an additional $6,437.36 during the election period. Jensen’s biggest expense was $6,712.2 for “internet” advertising. His next two biggest expenses were approximately $3,800 on “signs and billboards,” followed by almost $3,500 on “newspaper, magazine and journal advertisements.” Jean Thomson, Frank Wright, Donald Mattrick, Sarah Henderson, Kelsey Robbins Nemec, Leonard Cole and Andrew Wilkinson (not the the leader of the of the provincial Liberal party) each made $1,200 donations to his campaign.
Coun. Esther Paterson spent a total of $6,786.64.
Of that, $1,687.92 was spent during the election period, while $5,098.72 was during the campaing. Her largest expense was “signs and billboards,” totalling $3,108. Her largest single campaign contribution was $500 from John Foxgord, dated March 28, 2018.
Coun. Andrew Appleton spent a total of $3,653.50.
He spent $3,361.64 during the campaign and $291.86 over the period leading up to it. His largest expense is listed as “professional services,” totalling $1,380. His biggest contributor was Jeremie White, who gave $1,200 on Sept. 21, 2018.
Coun. Eric Wood Zhelka spent a total of $6,277.29.
Of that, $5,637.44 was spent during the campaign period and $639.85 was spent during the election period. His largest expense was “signs and billboards,” on which he spent $1,738.24. His biggest single contribution was $500 from John Foxgord on Sept. 22, 2018, followed closely by $498 from Bruce Filan on Sept. 27, 2018.
Coun. Tara Ney spent a total of $4,387.03.
During the campaign, Ney spent $4029.11 and $357.92 during the lead up. Her biggest listed expense was “reused signs,” which she claimed a value of $1,200. The biggest individual contributors were Sarah Henderson and Kelsey Robbins Nemec, each of whom donated $1,200 on Sept. 25 and Sept. 30 respectively.
WATCH: Murdoch defeats Jensen for mayor’s seat
Coun. Cairine Green claimed $5,321.22 in expenses.
Green is an anomaly, having spent significantly more during the election period rather than the campaign proper. Green spent $3,509.54 during the former, while $1,811.68 was spent in the latter. Her largest claimed expense line was “brochures, pamphlets, and flyers,” totalling $2,003.24. Her largest contributor was Paul Elworthy, who donated $250 on Spet. 26, 2018.
Coun. Hazel Braithwaite’s total expenses were $3,863.80.
She spent $3,774.05 in the campaign period and $89.75 during the preceeding election period. She listed $1,257.39 under “value of resued signs” as her single largest expense. Rita Estock gave her single largest contribution of $600 on Sept. 9, 2018.
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