Okanagan municipal election expenses revealed

KELOWNA – Elections BC has posted on its website the financial disclosure statements of candidates in the November municipal elections.

In Kelowna and Penticton, the successful mayoral candidates were the biggest spenders. But that wasn’t the case in Vernon.

Colin Basran spent $76,451.70 in his successful bid for the mayor’s chair in Kelowna. His closest competitor, Sharon Shepherd, tallied $23,503.87 in election expenses.

In Penticton, Andrew Jakubeit won the mayoral race with expenses of $21,888.00. Former councillor John Vasalaki spent $19,125.00 and Jukka Laurio spent $4,106.96 in their unsuccessful efforts.

Akbal Mund was elected the new mayor of Vernon. His campaign expenses totalled $8,554.19. The biggest spender was Mary Jo O’Keefe at $20,747.48. Victor Cuming reported expenses of $19,884.28. Klaus Tribes spent $2,481.97. Jamie Morrow didn’t spend a single cent on his bid to be Vernon mayor, claiming zero expenses.