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White rock civic campaigns cost more

Mayoral candidates’ expenses up in White Rock; Wayne Baldwin spent $30,200 on successful campaign.
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White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin spent $30

White Rock’s new mayor spent $30,200.88 to win the city’s top chair, financial disclosure documents reveal.

Wayne Baldwin’s total is more than double the $13,014.16 spent by his predecessor, Catherine Ferguson, on her 2008 campaign, but just $5,428.19 more than the $24,772.69 spent by rival Lynne Sinclair on her failed run at the seat.

The documents, filed last month and viewable online, show Baldwin’s expenses work out to $13.92 for each of 2,169 votes won, compared to Sinclair’s $14.66 for each of 1,690 votes.

Ferguson logged $3.48 for each of the 3,738 votes she won  in 2008.

Baldwin’s most generous campaign contributions totalled $5,000 each; one from an individual, Peter Fluckiger, and the other from a corporation, Bosa Properties Ltd.

Other contributions included $3,000 from William or Golfo Tsaksumis; and $1,000 each from Stewart or Laureen Peddemors, Pat Higginbottom (sic), White Rock Firefighters Local 2407 and Commerce Pacific Holdings Ltd.

Baldwin gave two separate contributions to his own campaign, of $348.23 and $4,468.53.

Sinclair’s own $5,000 donation was the single-largest contribution listed in her paperwork, followed by two $3,000 donations from an E. Kennett, who Sinclair confirmed is her mother.

The list also included Pat Higginbotham ($1,050), Gordon and Grace Hartstone ($1,000), returning Couns. Al Campbell ($1,000), Grant Meyer ($1,000) and Mary-Wade Anderson ($1.030) and new Coun. Larry Robinson ($1,060).

For advertising, Baldwin spent $23,389.40; Sinclair, $22,270.45.

Angelo Megla – who dropped out of the mayoralty race too late to avoid having to file disclosure papers – reported having no campaign expenses. The fourth mayoral candidate, Larry Anschell, has yet to file.

Several council candidates have also filed disclosure documents.

Campbell reported expenses totalling $7,124.78, and just two contributions, both from individual donors: $6,000 from Grace and Gord Hartstone and $1,000 from Stan Scheves. Coun. Helen Fathers reported spending $3,987, and receiving a total of $4,000 in contributions, all from individuals. Robinson’s campaign cost him $7,403.65; his contributions, from individuals and corporations combined totalled $7,413.65. Anderson reported $14,750.32 in expenses and $11,700 in contributions; the latter including a total of $10,500 from Scheves and $500 from White Rock firefighters Local 2407. Coun. Louise Hutchinson reported spending and receiving $6,709.59, with the largest contribution, $3,609.59, from her own pocket.

Of three councillor hopefuls who have filed to date, Brad Forster reported the highest expenses, at $3,839.92. He received $2,290 in contributions. Bruce McWilliam reported the next-highest spending, at $1,639.27, followed by Steven Hughes, at $154.56.

School trustee Laurae McNally, who won her seat by acclamation, reported zero expenses.

The remaining White Rock candidates who ran for council – Meyer, Cliff Annable, Barry Belec, Dave Chesney, and Graham Wood had not filed papers as of Peace Arch News deadline Wednesday.

The deadline to declare campaign expenses is March 19.

- with files from Dan Ferguson



Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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