Halifax monetary marketing campaign paperwork from the current municipal election reveal how a lot cash candidates for mayor and council raised — and from whom.
The Halifax Regional Municipality launched marketing campaign contribution and expense statements from the October 2024 municipal election final week.
Mayor Andy Fillmore raised $302,969 in each money and in-kind contributions of providers, none of which was his personal private cash. He spent $298,255 on his marketing campaign, just below the $300,000 most restrict.
Roughly $4,700 in surplus was put aside for a future election.
The paperwork present Fillmore, a former Liberal MP, spent most of his funds ($228,031) on promoting and printing prices, in addition to $34,233 on different printed supplies like indicators and postage.
Many Halifax builders donated to Fillmore’s marketing campaign, together with Wadih Fares ($2,500), Francis Fares ($1,506), George Giannoulis ($3,000), Daniel Chedrawe ($1,000), Tony Metlege ($3,000), George Ramia ($2,000) and Navid Saberi ($2,000).
Different distinguished donors embrace landlord Adam Barrett of BlackBay Actual Property ($3,000), Fred George ($3,000), who owns a mining firm, Robert Steele of Steele Auto Group ($3,000), Nova Scotia Energy president Peter Gregg ($1,000), and Emera Power president Judy Steele ($1,000).
It’s frequent to see builders make giant donations to municipal candidates, together with former Halifax mayors Mike Savage and Peter Kelly.
Brad and Thomas Hickey of Atlantic Highway Development & Paving (ARCP) every donated $3,000 to Fillmore. Brad Hickey additionally donated $1,000 to longtime Japanese Shore councillor, David Hendsbee.
ARCP is the corporate behind a proposed infilling mission for a part of Dartmouth Cove. Tensions rose this summer time when the corporate put concrete blocks throughout a preferred strolling path within the space, which they eliminated after the province bought concerned.
The Halifax municipality is contemplating making modifications to limit water lot improvement and infilling in Dartmouth Cove, just like what has been performed with the Northwest Arm. HRM is gathering public suggestions on the thought till Jan. 31.
Fillmore’s promoting bills had been greater than the $145,330 the mayoral runner-up, former councillor Waye Mason, spent on his complete marketing campaign.
Mason raised $146,046 in whole contributions, placing in $925 of his personal cash. He spent $79,462 on promoting prices, and $13,906 on printed objects like indicators. Mason donated his $715.15 surplus to the Spencer Home Seniors Centre.
Former councillor Pam Lovelace, who positioned third, raised about $32,570 and spent all of it with no surplus. Lovelace spent about $20,940 on printed supplies like indicators, and $7,900 on promoting and printing.
Some donors unfold their funds to varied candidates.
Jason Brunt, president of Clayton Developments, donated $3,000 apiece to Fillmore, Mason and Lovelace.
For a complete of $9,000, this seems to interrupt the marketing campaign finance bylaw, which says the overall quantity of contributions a person could make to candidates, per election, shall not exceed $5,900. Anybody who breaks the bylaw might be liable to a penalty of $500 to $10,000.
CBC has contacted the municipality for remark and can replace this story with any response.
Councillors received seats with out elevating probably the most funds
However fundraising isn’t at all times an indicator of who will win a municipal race.
Councillors Virginia Hinch, Patty Cuttell, Trish Purdy, Nancy Hartling, Billy Gillis and Laura White all received their seats, however noticed rivals herald more cash.
This was the second municipal election in HRM the place marketing campaign finance guidelines had been in place. The 2018 bylaw setting out the foundations stated candidates for mayor can spend a most of $300,000, whereas council candidates can spend $30,000.
Candidates for each mayor and councillor can’t spend greater than $5,900 of their very own cash. Firms and non-profits can not donate, and people can solely donate as much as $3,000 to mayoral candidates and $1,200 for somebody operating for council.
