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UPDATED: Slocan, Kaslo, Salmo, and school board election expenses disclosed

Elections B.C. posts the election expenses for each candidate online, along with the identity of donors of amounts larger than $100.
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Elections B.C. posts online the election expenses for each candidate along with the identity of donors of amounts larger than $100.

In Slocan and Salmo, the successful mayoral candidates in last fall's municipal election also spent the most money to get elected, according to financial disclosures published last week by Elections BC.

In Slocan, successful mayoral candidate Jessica Lunn spent $344.09 on her campaign, while the only other candidate, Hillary Elliot, spent $277.75.

No Slocan council  candidates declared any expenses.

Candidates are required to disclose the amount they raise and spend on their campaigns within 90 days of the election. Individual donations of $100 or more must also be listed.

For the first time, Elections BC has posted online all of the financial information from the 2014 local government elections. The individual disclosure documents from all candidates can be viewed there, including the identities of their donors.

In Salmo, the biggest spender in the mayoral race was the winning candidate Stephen White, who spent $484.75 while second place finisher Henry Huser spent $388.21. Dennis McLean, the third-place finisher, declared no expenses.

The successful council candidates in Salmo were among the most frugal: Ken Anderson spent $150 and Cathy Paton $25, while Councillors Steven Dimock and Dan Danforth spent nothing.

Unsuccessful Salmo council candidate Diana Lockwood spent $410, Merle Hanson $169, Janine Haughton $900, and Bob Vliet $350. Candidates Jonathan Heatlie, Dan Isaacs, Curtis Richens, and Jim Mullaly all posted no expenses.

In Kaslo, the successful mayoral candidate Suzan Hewat spent $928.92. Second place finisher Patrick Mackle spent $459, while the incumbent candidate Greg Lay spent $1300.

In Kaslo, the successful council candidates Romella Glorioso spent $759, Robert Lang  $360.32, Kellie Knoll $211.24, and Jim Holland $100.

Of the other Kaslo candidates, Lynda Beddow spent $114, Louise DePape $250, and Dustin East $27.75. John Addison and David Collier declared no expenses.

In the election of trustees in the Kootenay Lake School District, the two successful Nelson candidates Curtis Bendig and Bill Maslechko spent $1560 and $45.91 respectively. Third place finisher Bob Abrahams spent $580.

On the East Shore, the successful school board candidate Lenora Trenaman spent $2245.58, while the her opponent Raeanne Gow spent $350.21.

Slocan council candidate Kevin Millership is listed on the Elections BC website as one of 14 candidates province-wide who did not file an election disclosure statement.

This article was amended on March 16. The original article erroneously reported that Salmo council candidate Merle Hanson reported no expenses, when in fact he reported $169.



Bill Metcalfe

About the Author: Bill Metcalfe

I have lived in Nelson since 1994 and worked as a reporter at the Nelson Star since 2015.
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