When it came to the race for Kitimat’s mayor chair, Phil Germuth’s ride to a win came too with higher spending than the other two candidates.
Germuth spent $8,559.99 in total in the campaign. Breaking down to how much that meant per vote he received, with 1,828 votes it cost him approximately $4.70 per vote.
He was leagues ahead of two challengers in terms of return of votes per dollar spent. The incumbent challenger Joanne Monaghan spent $6,633, receiving 448 votes. That works out to nearly $15 per vote.
For Trish Parsons, she was just over $10 per vote with her $5,315 expenses and 530 votes.
Under campaign financing laws candidates must disclose their revenues and expenses for a campaign. Elections BC posted the information Monday.
Of course the dollar amount spent is only a part of a campaign and more money doesn’t naturally cause a higher vote count in favour.
That was certainly the case for the council campaign. Claire Rattée certainly wins the votes per dollar ratio, spending no money to receive 1,381 votes and a spot on council.
Edwin Empinado comes close, with $500 disclosed for expenses and receiving 1,966 votes — second best turnout behind Rob Goffinet — effectively spent about a quarter per vote.
Larry Walker's campaign cost $1.24 per vote, spending $1,404, receiving 1,129 votes.
Rob Goffinet with his 1,997 votes spend $2,700. His disclosure forms include the expenses of road signs used from previous elections.
It was $1.85 per vote for Mary Murphy, spending $2,925.80, receiving 1,577 votes.
Mario Feldhoff’s campaign was the most expensive both in actual cost and the return on voters. He spent $3,700 on the campaign for 1,918 votes. That works out to $1.92 a vote.
Also disclosed was the spending by Unifor 2301, which spent $1,245 in total as a campaign sponsor in Kitimat and Terrace. The union had run advertising endorsing mayor candidate Phil Germuth and council candidate Rattée, and the Kitimat-specific expenses totals $796.