FILE PHOTO - From left, NDP candidate Tarik Sayeed, Green Party candidate Connie Sahlmark and Liberal candidate Dan Ashton.The Penticton riding was won by the party who also spent the most money on the campaign.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
August 16, 2017 - 2:30 PM
PENTICTON - If you believe it takes money to win a seat in the provincial legislature, recently released campaign spending data from the May 9 provincial election just might prove you right.
According to campaign expense and contribution disclosure information from the Penticton riding’s three candidates, B.C. Liberal Dan Ashton spent just over $100,300 to win the riding, garnering 14,470 votes, while B.C. NDP candidate Tarik Sayeed, who place second, spent about $75,100 and received 7,874 votes.
B.C. Green Party candidate Connie Sahlmark spent about $4,800 and garnered 5,061 votes.
Ashton’s campaign was partially funded through corporate donations totalling just over $42,900.
Barefoot Beach Resort, of which Penticton City Councillor Max Picton is president, was the largest corporate contributor with a donation of $7,000 to Ashton's campaign.
Other corporate donations to Ashton include Appel Estates and Argo Road Maintenance at $2,500 each, Inland Contracting at $4,500, Siva Construction at $4,000, Cendek Railings at $5,000 and Simple Pursuits at $2,862.98.
Neither the NDP or Greens received corporate donations.
Ashton’s campaign spent roughly $18,900 on newsletters and promotional advertising, while Sayeed invested about $5,500 in the same category. Sahlmark spent a little over $1,900 on newsletters and promotional material.
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