Jordan Sturdy outspent his nearest challenger by more than five to one in winning the election as the Sea to Sky Corridor's provincial representative earlier this year.
Sturdy, the Pemberton farmer and mayor who ran for the B.C. Liberals in the May 14 election, spent a total of $93,357 compared to the $16,641 spent by New Democratic Party hopeful Ana Santos, the second-place finisher in the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding. Green Party candidate Richard Warrington spent $4,186.44, independent Jon Johnson spent $1,200.61 and independent Conservative Ian McLeod spent $621.42, according to documents released on Monday (Aug. 19) by Elections B.C.
While candidates are required to report all contributions of $250 or more, it's difficult to make a fair comparison on that front because both major-party candidates received most of their campaign funding in the form of transfers from their parties.
Sturdy, for example, received $120,953 in total transfers from the B.C. Liberal Party and reported no contributions of $250 or more. He still had a balance of $34,688 in his campaign account when his campaign team reported to Elections B.C.
Santos, the Squamish-based writer and translator, received $16,427 in transfers from the NDP and a total of $385 in contributions. She had a final campaign account balance of $2,940.
Warrington received no transfers from the Green Party but reported that he received a $2,500 contribution from Patricia Frances Verrall and contributed $1,400 to his own campaign. He had $13.56 left in the bank at campaign's end.
Johnson reported no contributions or transfers but reported $950.61 in election-related expenses that were subject to expenditure limits.
McLeod report a $622.42 contribution from the Conservative Party and reported $300 in his campaign account at campaign's end.
Sturdy received 10,101 votes in the election, or 52.6 per cent of the vote. Santos finished second with 6,288 (32.53 per cent), Warrington had 2,125, McLeod 600 and Johnson 213.
Premier Christy Clark's Liberals, who won re-election as a majority government after predictions of their demise, outspent the rival New Democrats. The Liberals spent $11.7 million, with $8.302 million in contributions, compared to the NDP's $9.4 million spent, with $9.3 million in contributions. By comparison, the Green Party spent $180,245 province-wide and won their first-ever seat in the Legislature; the Conservatives spent $154,837 and failed to win a seat.
