Efforts to get Tri-City residents out to vote in last fall’s municipal campaign — and to stage the election itself — were costly line items for the region’s five municipalities.
According to figures released to The Tri-City News, Coquitlam spent $307,000 on the race that saw Mayor Richard Stewart returned to office as well as incumbents Brent Asmundson, Craig Hodge, Dennis Marsden, Teri Towner, Chris Wilson and Bonita Zarrillo, and newbies Steve Kim and Trish Mandewo take over Terry O’Neill and Mae Reid’s chairs.
Chief election officer Lauren Hewson, the city’s information, privacy and administrative services manager, said the money was spent on: electronic voting books, tabulators, project management, support and supplies ($157,100); labour ($126,200); voter card mail outs ($6,000); a Get Out The Vote public relations drive ($6,000); general supplies ($5,000); and legally required newspaper ads in local publications ($3,500).
City council had budgeted up to $350,000 to run the civic and school board elections, Hewson said today (Friday).
By comparison, Port Coquitlam shelled out $80,731 for its vote that saw Brad West elected as mayor, replacing Greg Moore who announced in late 2017 he would resign.
In Port Moody, the unofficial cost was $91,492 for the municipal, school board and community opinion question vote, said communications specialist Natasha Vander Wal.
The referendum question asked voters what they wanted to see done with the former fire hall and existing work yard sites; 52.5% voted against a sale, partial sale or lease.
Meanwhile, in the villages, Anmore coughed up $19,311 to run an election that saw Mayor John McEwen returned to his seat, and the four council contenders acclaimed.
And Belcarra’s election — which had three challengers for the mayor’s job to replace Ralph Drew, who retired — was $27,506, said chief administrative officer Lorna Dysart.
