Martin spent $26K on election campaign

Mayor Amy Martin received financial support from 37 people in her successful campaign for Norfolk County’s top elected position.

Those 37 people, which includes former mayor Dennis Travale, contributed anywhere from $100 to $1,200 to Martin’s campaign.

Travale donated $1,000, financial statements filed by Martin with the county’s clerk’s office show.

Martin received $25,532 and raised $1,060 for a total of $26,592 to support her bid. She spent $26,103 to finish the campaign with a surplus of just over $489.

Form Ward 5 Coun. Ian Rabbitts, who finished fourth in the race for mayor, received $9,400 in contributions and raised $342 for a total of $9,742. Rabbitts spent $8,556 and a further $10 on bank fees after the campaign. He finished with a $1,175 surplus.

David Bate, who finished fifth in voting, received $3,400 in contributions and raised $873 for a total of $4,273. He spent $4,214 and has a surplus of just under $59.

Zvonko Horvat, who registered to run for mayor but withdrew prior to the deadline, also filed a financial statement. However, there are no contributions or expenses reported.

Former Mayor Kristal Chopp and mayoral candidate Bill Culver, did not file campaign financial statements with the Norfolk County clerk by the March 31 deadline.

Candidates who miss the deadline are ineligible to hold, be elected or appointed to any office governed by the Municipal Elections Act, until after the next regular election. The next municipal election is Oct. 26, 2026.

To become eligible for the next election, they must file their financial statements and pay a $500 non-refundable fee to the county clerk prior to 2 pm May 1.

Four other candidates in the 2022 municipal election also missed the March 31 deadline: Jeff Smrca, a Ward 4 candidate; Brian Jones, a Ward 5 candidate; Peter Butler, a Ward 6 candidate, and Don Werden, who ran for trustee on the Grand Erie District School Board representing Wards 1 through 7.

Financial statements show that Ward 5 Coun. Alan Duthie was the top spender among council ward candidates. He also received the most individual contributions in support of his campaign.

Duthie spent $8,887 on his successful campaign and received support from 14 individuals including Travale, who contributed $500. In total, Duthie received $6,900 in campaign contributions from individuals.

Ward 5 Coun. Doug Brunton spent $3,813 to win the other Ward 5 seat on county council. Candidate Kristine Mitchell spent $4,054; incumbent Ryan Taylor didn’t report any expenses or contributions. Taylor announced his withdrawal from the election, but his name still appeared on the ballot.

Following is a list of the other county council candidates and how much they spent on their campaigns:

Ward 1 – Tom Masschaele spent $2,576 to be returned to office; challenger Randy Mawhiney spent $3,872. Mawhiney received $3,900 in individual contributions to his campaign. However, his financial statements also show he returned $1,200 to one donor and $400 to another.

Ward 2- Linda Vandendriessche spent $3,022 to win re-election; challenger Lucas Tulpin spent just under $400.

Ward 3 – Mike Columbus spent $2,056 on his successful campaign which returned him to council for another term. Jeanette Gomori-Cole withdrew from the campaign prior to election day and didn’t list any expenses. Her name still appeared on the bundle.

Ward 4 – Chris Van Paassen spent $3,142 on his successful campaign to be returned to council. Challenger William Murray spent $1,167 while challenger Tony Lasanowski didn’t report any expenses. Lasanowski announced he was withdrawing from the election but his name still appeared on the ballot.

Ward 6 – Adam Veri spent $4,819 on his successful campaign; Pamela Taylor spent $2,368; Holly Ann Smith spent $1,211; Adam Wilson spent $392.

Ward 7 – Kim Huffman spent $2,429 and was returned to council for another term. Challenger Lorraine Skarratt spent $2,986: Lana Plank spent $2,024.

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