“Revealing the Financials of the 2022 Sunshine Coast Election: How Much Did Candidates Spend and Receive?”

Months after votes were counted and successful candidates took their oaths of office, Elections BC released how much was spent and received for the 2022 election on the Sunshine Coast.

Data released Feb. 2 shows that Sechelt Mayor John Henderson spent and received the most donations in the 2022 election on the lower Sunshine Coast than any other candidate.

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In Sechelt District, where 17 candidates ran for election, total revenue among them was $47,736.24, while total expenditure was $44,629.64, according to Elections BC.

The 11 Town of Gibsons candidates spent a total of $29,455.47 in expenses and received $17,151.85.

Note: Sechelt candidate Anna Jade Chen was added to Election BC’s list of 87 candidates who had not submitted their disclosure statements by the January 13 deadline. As of February 3, their disclosure was not included in Election BC reports. The late filing deadline is February 13 and the late fee is $500.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) saw just one race among rural directors as incumbents and two newcomers were celebrated. Justine Gabias, who was elected to represent Halfmoon Bay (Area B), reported that her expenses were $1,354.87 and campaign contributions were $1,425.

The campaign contribution limit per person in 2022 was $1,250.

Sechelt information

Spending limits in Sechelt’s campaign elections were set at $11,848.68 for mayoral candidates and $5,924.34 for city council candidates. (These limits are based on the office and the population of the constituency.)

In his bid to return to the mayoral seat, Sechelt Mayor John Henderson was both the highest-receiving and highest-spending candidate in all of the Sunshine Coast’s 2022 general elections. His disclosure shows that he had a total income of $13,449 (from 32 contributors, $2,000 from Henderson himself, plus $99 in undisclosed contributions) and $12,199.42 in total expenses. (However, these totals are significantly lower than the more than $27,000 that Bruce Milne spent in the previous 2018 election, while winning mayoral candidate Darnelda Siegers spent around $14,900.)

Of the four mayoral candidates, Jeri Patterson followed with a total of $6,740.31 in expenses and $6,950 in income ($2,500 that she contributed herself). Three people donated the maximum allowable amount of $1,250 to Patterson. Siegers spent a total of $5,387.27 — less than half of her 2018 spend — which she received from 14 contributors (a total of $1,597.27 from herself and an additional $150 from anonymous contributors). Allan Holt’s disclosure statement reported total expenses of $2,060.44 for his run for mayor.

All but one of the Council candidates spent more than half of the allowable spending. Christopher Moore’s expenses led the way with $4139.76 and he received $5,200 (with himself contributing $100). Adam Shepherd’s expenses were $2903.96 and his income was $3160. Dianne McLauchlan reported spending a total of $2,440.02 while her income was $2,752.36 ($2,521.00 by herself). Micky Argiropoulos’ reported income was $2,550 and she spent $2,265.76. She contributed $1,200. Warren Allan spent $2,507.58 of his $2,535.72 income ($1,687.96 was self-contributed by Allan). Alton Toth’s expenses totaled $2,370.75 of his $2,420 incoming contributions (including $250 from himself). Brenda Rowe reported spending a total of $1,420.62 out of a total income of $1,450 (including $1,250 from herself). Thomas Bramble’s expenses were $620.18 and his income was $761.09 ($461.09 he contributed himself). Tim Horner’s expenses were $534.89 on an income of $549.30 ($400 himself). Cheryl Chang’s income was $250 and she spent $320.88. Darren Inkster spent $443 while his total income was $221.50. Donna Bell spent the least on her winning run at $345.24. She received donations totaling $100.

Walter Tripp and Luke Gordon also submitted $0, but both withdrew their candidacy from the Sechelt election.

Shepherd, McLauchlan, Toth, Rowe, Inkster and Bell were eventually elected to the Sechelt Council.

Gibson’s Disclosures

For the 2022 election, the spending limit during the Gibsons campaign period was $10,797.83 for mayoral candidates and $5,398.92 for city council candidates.

Of the Gibsons nominees, Phil Yeung spent the most with a total of $10,923.50. He reported a total income of $0. Meanwhile, Mayor Silas White spent $3,381.24 ($8,818.18 less than Sechelt mayor) on his successful candidacy and his income was $2,675. The third candidate for mayor for the city, Leslie Thomson, spent $1,571.51 and had a total income of $1,548.65.

Of the Council candidates, Christi Thompson spent the most, totaling $3,537.1 in expenses and $3,750 in income. Greig Soohen’s expenses were $2,980.71 and his total earnings were $3,083.35. David Croal’s expenses totaled $2,580.58 and his income contributions were $1,291.29. Annemarie De Andrade spent $1,982.67 and her income was $2,023.55. Blake MacLeod reported his expenses as $1050.01 and income as $1,250.01. Stafford Lumley and Desmond Delaney each spent less than $1,000 as their spending totaled $743.15 and $705 respectively. Bob Morris reported both expenses and income as $0 in his disclosure statement.

On October 15, Thompson, Croal, De Andrade and Lumley were elected to the council.

With files by Sean Eckford

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