Halifax financial campaign documents from recent municipal elections reveal how much money the mayoral and council candidates raised – and from whom.
Halifax Regional Municipality Campaign contributions and expenditure details have been released from the October 2024 municipal elections last week.
Mayor Andy Fillmore raised $302,969 in cash and kind contributions of services, none of which was his own personal money. He spent $298,255 on his campaign, just short of the $300,000 maximum limit.
About $4,700 in surplus was earmarked for future elections.
The documents show Fillmore, a former Liberal MP, spent most of his funding ($228,031) on advertising and printing costs, as well as $34,233 on other printed materials such as signs and postage.
Several Halifax developers donated to Fillmore's campaign, including Wadih Fares ($2,500), Francis Fares ($1,506), George Giannoulis ($3,000), Daniel Chedrawe ($1,000), Tony Metlege ($3,000), George Ramia ($2,000) and Navid Saberi ($2,000). .
Other major donors include Blackbay Real Estate ($3,000), Fred George ($3,000), mining company owner Adam Barrett, Steele Auto Group's Robert Steele ($3,000), Nova Scotia Power chairman Peter Gregg ($1,000), and Amera Energy. President Judy Steele ($1,000).
It's common to see developers make large donations to municipal candidates, including former Halifax mayors Mike Savage and Peter Kelly.
Brad and Thomas Hickey of Atlantic Road Construction and Paving (ARCP) each donated $3,000 to the Fillmore. Brad Hickey also donated $1,000 to longtime Eastern Shore councilor David Hendsby.
ARCP is the company behind the proposed infilling project for part of Dartmouth Cove. Tensions escalated this summer when the company placed concrete blocks on a popular walking trail in the area, which they removed after the province got involved.
The Municipality of Halifax is considering changes to restrict water lot development and infilling in Dartmouth Cove, similar to what has been done with the Northwest Arm. HRM is Gather public feedback on the idea By January. 31.
Fillmore's ad spending was more than the $145,330 spent by the mayoral runner-up, former Councilman Way Mason, over his entire campaign.
Mason raised $146,046 in total contributions, putting up $925 of his own money. He spent $79,462 on advertising costs, and $13,906 on printed items such as signs. Mason donated his $715.15 extra to the Spencer House Seniors Center.
Former councilor Pam Lovelace, who came in third place, raised about $32,570 and spent it all with no extras. Lovelace spent about $20,940 on printed materials such as signs and $7,900 on advertising and printing.
Some donors spread their funds among different candidates.
Jason Brunt, president of Clayton Developments, donated $3,000 to Fillmore, Mason and Lovelace.
For a total of $9,000, it looks broke Campaign Finance Bylaw, which provides that the total amount of contributions an individual can make to candidates per election cannot exceed $5,900. Anyone who violates the rules can be liable for fines ranging from $500 to $10,000.
CBC has reached out to the municipality for comment and will update this story with any response.
Councilors won seats without much fundraising
But fundraising isn't always an indicator of who wins a municipal race.
Councilors Virginia Hinch, Patty Cuttell, Tris Purdy, Nancy Hartling, Billy Gillis and Laura White won their seats, but saw the challengers bring in more money.
This was the second municipal election in HRM where campaign finance regulations were in place. A 2018 bylaw that sets the rules states that candidates for mayor can spend a maximum of $300,000, while council candidates can spend $30,000.
Candidates for both mayor and councilor cannot spend more than $5,900 of their own money. Corporations and non-profits cannot donate, and individuals can only donate up to $3,000 to mayoral candidates and up to $1,200 to candidates for council.
