Campaign disclosures released this week for last fall’s civic election in Morinville show most candidates funded their own campaigns.
The one person to get outside help in paying for campaign expenses won the top spot, as Morinville Mayor Lloyd Bertschi received several donations to help in his race.
In order to avoid any possible bias however, Bertschi said he has never known who is contributing to his election financing.
Bertschi said he purposely kept a wall between him and his donors to eliminate any potential conflicts of interest. He said he had a campaign finance officer who handled all donations and filed all the paperwork.
“She did the filing and sealed it. I have no idea at this point in time who or what organizations donated to my campaign.”
He said the only thing he knew about his campaign finances was how much money was available.
“I don’t know any specific numbers or any specific donors.”
The disclosures that are now required under provincial law reveal Bertschi spent a grand total of $2,800 on his campaign, with $500 of that coming from his own pocket.
Trans American Investments was his biggest contributor with a $500 contribution. The company is a development firm with several properties in Morinville.
He also received $250 in campaign donations from several local businesses including Drayden Insurance, Quinn’s Plumbing & Heating and R.V. City.
Smaller donations also came in from several real estate agents including Brent Melville and George Van De Walle, as well as from lawyer Gordon Putnam and Kenny’s Mobile Tire.
The donations were made public as part of a provincial law that requires campaign disclosures in any municipal election of donations exceeding $100.
Morinville had a similar bylaw in place prior to the provincial law, which came into effect last year.
Bertschi said his approach to Morinville has always favoured growth and any donors who were hoping to change his opinion on the issue through donations would be disappointed.
“Even if I did know, it wouldn’t influence what I support and what I don’t. It is clear that I am a pro-business and pro-development candidate and that is the way I am.”
Bertschi said the support from his campaigns has come from people interested in seeing him succeed.
“I have always had the good fortune of support from a lot of different people and organizations over the years and for the most part they have come to me.”
