The new rules for election campaigns resulted in a sharp decrease in Tri-City candidate donations and spending, according to disclosure statements made public today (Tuesday).
The Elections BC papers show Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart didn’t bring in any contributions before the Oct. 31, 2017, cut off when the provincial regulations kicked in to ban union and corporate cash in the next race for council and school board seats.
For the 2018 general election, Stewart raised and expensed around $37,000 — half of what he spent in 2014 despite having an $89,336 cap as imposed for the jurisdiction.
With no money prior to to the provincial deadline, Stewart relied on donations from individuals to pay for his re-election bills — among them, Woody’s Pub owner Gordon Cartwright; developer Craig Lochhead; and Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Joan Isaacs.
Stewart’s labour-backed competitor, Adel Gamar, raised and spent about $24,000, using $2,400 from his own wallet. His list of donors included: Carlo Zarrillo, husband of Coun. Bonita Zarrillo; Dan Robinson, husband of Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Selina Robinson; Port Moody-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly; former Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Jodie Wickens; former Coquitlam MLA John Cashore; and NDP organizers Matt Djonlic and Linda Asgeirsson. Gamar also shared election costs with councillors Zarrillo and Chris Wilson, and SD43 Trustee Jennifer Blatherwick, the documents reveal.
Meanwhile, in Port Coquitlam, newly elected Mayor Brad West raised $100,000 before the provincial deadline — 60% from trade unions and 40% from corporations. That meant West didn’t have to collect a penny during the campaign, after Nov. 1, 2017.
Among West’s business supporters were: Mosaic Developments, Kebet Holdings, Onni and Marinelli Investments, which gave West $10,000 each. The PoCo firefighters’ union local handed West $20,000 while the United Steelworkers District 3 — of which West is the communications and political action co-ordinator, now on leave — gave $25,000.
In Port Moody, former mayor Mike Clay already had $26,700 in his campaign kitty before the cut-off date, from corporations and developers like Aragon Development, Beedie Investments, Brook Pooni Associates and Great Canadian Gaming Corp.
In addition, Clay brought in $19,849 during the campaign period from his donors — among them, Pat Dennett, and George and Linda Balzer, who received exemplary civic service awards from the city in 2015 and 2013, respectively; developer Kush Panatch, president of the Panatch Group; and accountant and philanthropist Sharon Perry.
Meanwhile, newly elected Mayor Rob Vagramov raised and spent about $30,000 with $1,200 from his own funds; $100 from Coun. Hunter Madsen’s partner, Marcus; $200 from past mayoral candidate Shane Kennedy; and $300 from restaurateur Fred Soofi.
As for the villages, Anmore’s John McEwen raised $9,600 — with $1,200 coming from his own pocket — and spent nearly all of his cap of $10,000 for his re-election bid (his competitor, Glen Coutts, spent $2,000 of his own money to bankroll his election run).
And, in Belcarra, newly elected Mayor Neil Belenkie raised and spent nothing — a contrast to candidates Jamie Ross, who brought in $5,587 from donors, including $700 of his own money, and Colm Cole, who took in $6,000, paying $2,400 himself.
The disclosures for mayoral, council and school board candidates can be viewed by clicking elections.bc.ca/lecf.
Coquitlam council contender Rob Bottos was granted an extension on filing his report due to extenuating circumstances, Elections BC noted.
