The price of running for provincial office

Getting your votes cost nine of the 10 Moose Jaw candidates more than $112,000 in last year's provincial election, according to preliminary information published by Elections Saskatchewan.
Information for one candidate, Gwen Beitel, representing the Saskatchewan Party in Moose Jaw Wakamow, is unavailable. She had not filed by the Feb. 8 deadline.
The most expensive campaign in the city was Moose Jaw North with four candidates declaring revenues of $105,500 and expenses of $61,500.
The winner, Warren Michelson of the Saskatchewan Party had a surplus of $10,755, on revenues of $57,310 but the party loaned the campaign $5,000.
Under election law, any surplus campaign funds must be given to the local party association or the provincial party.
His campaign received $27,000 from Saskatchewan Party organizations, $7,079 from 18 corporations, $10,187 from 31 individuals and there was no money from trade unions. The biggest corporate donors, at $2,500 each, were Husky Oil and Moose Jaw EMS Services.
Names of donors in excess of $250 in individual, corporate, trade union or other organization categories are published online with campaign details.
Michelson outspent incumbent New Democrat Glenn Hagel. Hagel spent about $4,500 less with a $275 surplus.
Hagel received $16,786 from Conexus Credit Union and $988 from the Moose Jaw Union Centre, $3,720 from 36 individuals, $3,800 from six trade unions and $14,699 from party associations.
Liberal John Morris spent $4,948, and took in $5,888 for a surplus of $740. Morris got $5,498 from Liberal associations, $210 from two individuals with no trade union or corporate funding.
Green Party candidate Deanna Robillard had no revenues and no expenses.
In Moose Jaw Wakamow, winner Deb Higgins of the NDP took in $16,155 and spent $46,620 for a $30,000 deficit.
However, Saskatchewan Elections reimbursement will cover most of the deficit. Candidates with 15 per cent of the vote get 60 per cent of qualifying expenses up to $48,413.
Her campaign took in $4,300 from the constituency association, $50 from one corporation, $2,405 from 30 individuals, and $9,200 from trade unions.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union made two donations totalling $4,300 with two $1,000 donations by the Canadian Union of Public Employees and Retail Wholesale Department Store Union.
Liberal Sharice Billett Niedermayer took in $5,060 and spent $4,930 for a $120 surplus. All of her funds came from Liberal associations or the John Morris campaign.
Green Party candidate Larissa Shasko declared $51.92 in revenues from one individual and $51.92 in expenses.
Conservative Tom Steen declared $394.05 in receipts and expenses.

Ron Walter can be reached at 691-1264.