Mayor Dave Pernarowski was the top spender during 2011’s municipal elections with the highest contributions to his campaign.
The value of Pernarowski’s campaign for last year’s mayoral race was $7,033.58, almost five-times more than his leading election contender Bruce Martindale, who spent $1,454.37.
The value of overall campaigns by 16 of 17 city council hopefuls was more than $16,300, with 68 per cent of that coming from outside contributions like money or discounted or free goods and services.
Of Pernarowski’s $7,033.58 campaign, $6,864.60 came from outside contributions and he spent $168.98. His top contributors were: Local casino Chances Terrace, which gave $2,500; MacCarthy Motors at $500; Skeena Sawmills at $500; Imperial Metals at $500; Roger Kettyls at $250; Terrace Totem Ford at $200; Bruno Belanger at $200; Rod Cox at $200; Lael McKeown at $175; David McKeown at $175; and Darcy McKeown at $175.
He also received $1,120 in kind from Silvertip Promotions; $201.60 from Spotless Cleaners, and a $168 discount for sign decals.
Of all expenses, Pernarowski spent the most on promotional materials like pamphlets, signs and flyers, which was the top area of spending by most candidates.
Unlike other candidates, Pernarowski spent $729.08 on conventions and meetings.
Other areas of spending include things like advertising on the radio, television and in print, office supplies, transportation, bank charges and volunteer thank-you gifts.
Pernarowski did not receive any contributions less than $100.
This paints a different picture than his top contender in the mayor’s race.
Bruce Martindale spent $1,454.37 with $1,033 in contributions. Martindale spent $421.37 himself, and received 13 contributions from individuals, each less than $100.
Most of his campaign money, $1,160.37, was spent on signs, pamphlets and brochures.
Next up, Jennifer Lewis’ campaign rang in at $766.15 with $640 contributed — spending $126.15 herself.
Terrace’s Kelly Derksen contributed $560.00 in kind for signs, and Lewis received one other contribution of $80.
Mayoral candidate Don Dunster neither spent or received anything, and candidate Merv Ritchie had not filed financial disclosure statements as of Friday March 23.
Of those who ran for a councillor’s seat, now councillor James Cordeiro spent the most at $1,386.42, which he paid himself.
Next, Bruce Bidgood spent $1,277 and received $350 in contributions, spending $927 himself.
He received two $100 contributions and three less than $100.
His campaign was also endorsed by the Canadian Labour Congress, an umbrella organization for unions.
Brian Downie’s campaign cost $1,124.35 with $1,124.35 in contributions, the majority of which came from his business Split Mountain Adventures at $824.35 and the other $300 came from a Tim Hortons in Oakville, Ontario.
Marylin Davies’ campaign rang in at $1,005.84, of which six contributions less than $100 made up $300.
Next, Mike Ross spent $581.57 with $20 of that contributed and $561.57 paid himself.
MaryAnn Freeman spent $586.28 including a $50 contribution, with the difference paid by herself.
Dan Lefrancois’ campaign was worth $433 with $276 in contributions, and $157 spent himself. He received 4 contributions totalling $200, and two in-kind contributions totalling $76.
Stacey Tyers spent $353.30 and received $515 in contributions, creating a contribution surplus of $161.70.
“I will be donating it,” she said. “I just haven’t decided where.”
Tyers said she has potential recipients in mind.
To her campaign, Colleen Austin contributed $200 and Alexandra Loggin $100. Six anonymous donations, each less than $50, totalled $215.
Tyers was also endorsed by the Canadian Labour Congress, which she said involved getting a letter of support.
Long-time councillor Lynne Christiansen spent $151.11 on her campaign, which she paid herself.
Councillor candidates who spent $100 or less include Tyson Hull with a $100 campaign value. One $100 in-kind contribution for signs from CK Advertising Solutions Ltd. made up that amount.
Tamara Ainscow spent $48.41 herself on signs material and advertising.
Last in place for spending was Chris Gee, who took a zero-waste approach to his campaign by not creating waste from things like signs or pamphlets.
Gee’s only expense was $25 to attend a Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce luncheon, which he paid for himself.
The 2011 election nearly doubled in campaign spending compared to 2008, when 10 people spent nearly $9,000.