Wayne Wright spent more than ever before to win his fourth term as mayor of New Westminster - and Jaimie McEvoy took councillor campaign expenses to new heights.
Financial disclosure statements show that Wright spent $61,263 on his 2011 municipal election campaign. That compares to the $49,249 he spent in 2008, $57,201 in 2005 and $23,909 in 2002.
James Crosty, who placed second in the mayor's race, spent $19,034. That's less than the $28,776 McEvoy spent on his bid to be reelected to a second term on council.
In 2008, Wright received $58,850 in contributions, leaving him with a balance of $10,876. In addition to the balance from the 2008 election, he had $50,625 in new contributions to this campaign, including donations from numerous individuals, a union and a number of businesses and developers.
Aragon Development donated $10,000 to Wright's campaign, making it the largest single donation. The contribution was double what Aragon had contributed to Wright's 2008 campaign.
Other significant donations from developers came from: Gondola Holdings - $5,000; RPMG Holdings - $5,000; Ballenas Project Management - $3,000; Plaza 88 Development - $3,000; Wesgroup Properties - $2,100; and Blue Sky Properties - $2,000.
Crosty's campaign received donations from a number of individuals and a handful of businesses (the largest was a $1,500 contribution from Starlight Casino). In addition to $13,939 in donations of $100 or more, he also received 286 donations of $99.99 or less from 286 individuals - more than any other candidate seeking election in New Westminster.
Vance McFadyen, who placed third in the mayor's race, received contributions of $4,091, which included his own
contribution of $3,676. The final candidate in the mayor's race, Francois Nantel, ran the cheapest mayor's campaign - spending $159 of his own money on advertising and bank fees.
Advertising, signs, brochures are generally the top costs in municipal campaigns. Candidates also declare a variety of other expenses including office space and supplies, postage and courier services, transportation, compensation to people working on the campaigns, and election party costs.
Jaimie McEvoy set a record in 2008 for a councillor's election campaign costs, when he spent $15,232. He smashed that record with this year's $28,776 campaign, which included $19,001 of his own money.
McEvoy also received $1,275 in donations from individuals and $6,002 in donations from unions, businesses and developers. The bulk of McEvoy's campaign costs were for advertising including newspapers, signs and pamphlets - $26,127, but he also spent $900 on campaign-related transportation.
With expenses of $20,265, incumbent councillor Bill Harper doubled the $10,169 he spent on his 2008 campaign. His contributions included $3,152 of his own money, a handful of donations from developers and businesses, many cash donations from individuals and $8,901 in contributions from unions.
Labour-supported candidates running for seats on council were tops in spending.
Jonathan Cote spent $16,460 on his campaign, which was an increase from the $10,635 he spent three years ago. In addition to numerous donations from individuals, he also received some financial support from business and $7,980 in contributions from unions.
Lorrie Williams was next in line, spending $13,107, including a personal contribution of $7,800. She also received more than $5,800 in donations from unions.
Chuck Puchmayr spent $12,695 on his bid to be re-elected to council, after a six-year break during which time he served as New Westminster's MLA. His $6,748 in donations from individuals included a personal contribution of $5,648. He also received $800 in donations from businesses and $4,547 in contributions from unions.
Longtime councillor Bob Osterman spent $10,216 on his campaign - compared to the $3,361 he spent in 2008 - but ended up losing his seat. In addition to his own contribution of $4,200, he received a $100 individual donation, $5,700 from developers (Aragon was the largest at $2,000) and $400 from the New Westminster firefighters' union.
The firefighters' union also donated funds to Cote, Harper, Betty McIntosh, Puchmayr and Williams.
Gavin Palmer spent $9,661 on his bid for a seat on city council. He received contributions from individuals, two businesses and contributed $1,968 of his own money.
Incumbent councillor Betty McIntosh spent $8,866 on her campaign, which included donations from individuals, developers and unions. That's an increase from the $6,404 she spent on her 2008 campaign.
Not far behind was candidate John Ashdown, who spent $8,275 on his campaign.
Here's what other council candidates spent on their 2011 campaigns: David Noshad - $6,973; Calvin Donnelly $6,940 (an increase from the $2,910 he spent in 2008 when he lost his council seat); Susan Wandell - $5,952; James Bell - $922; Gerry Liu - $893; and Vladimir Krasnogor - $168.
Paul Mulangu ran the most frugal campaign of any candidate in New Westminster in 2011, spending just $50 on brochures.
While most candidates received financial contributions from other individuals, businesses or unions, Bell, Krasnogar, Liu and Mulangu funded their campaigns out of their own pockets.
Cote, Harper, McEvoy, McIntosh, Puchmayr and Williams were elected to council.
Council candidate Harp Sihota had not filed his disclosure paperwork by The Record's deadline.
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