AMHERST – The nine people who sought election in last May’s provincial election spent more than $150,000 during the campaign.
The third volume of the by the province’s chief electoral officer was recently made public.
In Cumberland North, the five candidates spent $80,949 with Liberal incumbent Terry Farrell spending $38,400 and winning candidate, Progressive Conservative Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin spending $28,284.
Earl Dow of the New Democratic Party spent $14,235 while Bill Archer of the Atlantica Party spent $29.
Independent candidate Richard Plett claimed no election expenses.
The four candidates in Cumberland South claimed a combined $60,259 with Liberal Kenny John Jackson spending $25,750 and incumbent Progressive Conservative candidate and then party leader Jamie Baillie claiming $21,839. Larry Duchesne of the NDP claimed $12,649 in expenses and Thor Lengies of the Atlantica Party claimed $20.61 in election expenses.
Election expenses include headquarters, worker remuneration, publicity and advertising, travel, campaign functions and other expenses.
None of the candidates claimed any personal expenses.
Under campaign laws, Smith-McCrossin was able to be reimbursed for 73 per cent of her campaign expenses, or $20,750, while Farrell received 54 per cent, or $20,750. In Cumberland South, Baillie was reimbursed 80 per cent of his campaign expenses, or $17,371, while Jackson was reimbursed 67 per cent, of $17,371.
It cost $120,397 to run the election (returning office expenses) in Cumberland North and $106,390 in Cumberland South.
The total cost of delivering the election per elector was $13.07, compared to $12.89 in 2013.
It cost $9.9 million for the provincial election. The 203 candidates provincially spent $4.7 million with 144 of them receiving the required 10 per cent of the valid votes cast to qualify for the reimbursement of a portion of their campaign expenses.
On average, candidates received 77 cents on every dollar spent. In 2013, candidates received 66 cents on every dollar spent.