Unlike high rollers in neighbouring municipalities, candidates in the District of North Vancouver were relatively thrifty in last fall’s election.
According to campaign finance disclosure documents filed with Elections BC, total spending in the district fell 50 per cent in 2022 compared to four years earlier – to $112,423 from $226,608. Relatedly, 13 candidates ran for council and two for mayor last year, while 18 ran for council and five for mayor in 2018.
Notably frugal was Mayor Mike Little, who was re-elected for a second term. He spent just $9,156, after raising $11,792 for his campaign. That’s peanuts when stacked up beside the $92,000 spent by West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager, and a record-breaking $101,000 forked out by City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan.
Little was also outspent by his election rival, former North Vancouver district councillor Mathew Bond, who spent $13,847 after raising $13,157. Little won by a slim margin, with 51 per cent of the vote. When he was up against four other candidates in 2018, Little spent twice as much on his campaign ($18,642).
All donations of more than $1,000 to Little’s campaign were made by himself or family members. Unlike some of his peers on the North Shore, Little didn’t receive notable contributions from people working in development, consulting and real estate. Janice Knapp, a work experience facilitator at Seycove Secondary, contributed $1,000.
Mayoral candidate Bond received a $1,250 contribution from Joel R. McLean, president at Pan-Canadian Mortgage Group Inc., a firm that funds development projects. Jeremy Miller, owner of Houston Landscapes, contributed $1,250 as well. Active transportation advocate Martyn Schmoll also pitched in $1,250, which is the maximum annual donation allowed from an individual. Donations from corporations and unions were banned leading up to the 2018 municipal elections.
Mayor Little spent $6 on social media
Spending in the 28-day “campaign period” in the run-up to election day in the district is capped at $61,506. Other North Shore mayoral candidates split their spending between that period and the broader “election period” to stay within spending limits. Little declared that all of his expenses were made during the campaign period. He spent $6,107 on signs, $1,433 on social functions, $6 on social media and $0 on newspapers and periodicals.
Bond spent almost all his funds in the campaign period as well. He spent $5,793 on signs, $200 on social functions, $1,166 on social media and $2,061 on newspapers and periodicals.
The biggest spender in the district’s election was Jordan Back, who spent $25,056 after raising $16,095. He held his seat on council.
Newly elected councillor Herman Mah raised the most with $16,889. He spent $15,351.
Betty Forbes raised the least among the elected councillors with $1,929. She spent $3,951.
Incumbents Jim Hanson raised $15,535, spending $14,338, and Lisa Muri raised $3,707, spending $2,436.
Newly elected Catherine Pope raised $3,481 and spent $2,623.
