The biggest spender in a bid for a seat at the Langley Board of Education table was newcomer Megan Dykeman who spent $12,666, most of which she contributed herself.
Campaign disclosure statements have been filed and unions turned out to be biggest contributors to many campaigns.
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) contributed $2,100 to Dykeman’s campaign while the Steelworkers Union contributed $250. Fraser Valley Labour Congress provided $500. Individual Mike MacDonald contributed $500. Dykeman put in $8,060 of her own money.
Langley Teachers Association provided $711 of in-kind contributions. Her surplus was $1,565.
Board chair Wendy Johnson’s election expenses totalled $9,132. Of that $4,416 was contributed, mainly by labour. She paid the balance herself. Labour unions contributed $3,611 to Johnson’s campaign with CUPE contributing $1,800, the Steelworkers Union $500, the Fraser Valley Labour Council $100 and $711 from the LTA in-kind for its mail-out to teachers. Johnson spent $4,857 on courier and postage, and another $4,189 on advertising, signs and brochures.
Rob McFarlane spent $5,050 on his re-election as a trustee. He financed $2,000 of his campaign and CUPE gave him $1,700.The LTA provided $927 of in-kind mail-outs and FVLC gave him $500 in-kind.
Candy Ashdown spent $6,607 on her successful bid for a Langley City seat on the board. Mike MacDonald and Lyle Pona gave $500 each to her campaign. CUPE spent $2,850 on Ashdown. The Steelworkers Union contributed $550.
The LTA provided a mail-out for an in-kind contribution of $711.49. Ashdown also contributed $1,957 out of her own pocket.
Kirsten Schaffer-Charlesworth spent $8,764 on her bid for a trustee position.
The majority of her campaign she paid for herself, with her parents, including her dad, re-elected City councillor Ted Schaffer, putting in $1,131.
Cecilia Reekie’s entire campaign was paid for by contributors, almost all from CUPE, totalling $4,488.17. She has $563 remaining, that she never spent and gave to the Township in trust.
CUPE BC contributed $2,800 to her successful campaign. Of that, $1,700 came from CUPE BC and the remainder from CUPE locals.
She also received $250 from the Fraser Valley District Council. The LTA contributed $711 in-kind for mail-outs and the Canadian Labour Congress contributed $76 for candidate training. The FVDC contributed $500 for a phone bank.
John McKendry spent $3,873 on his campaign for a trustee seat. Of that, $711 was contributed in-kind for mail-outs from the LTA. Almost all of his campaign he financed himself.
Kari Medos spent $2,921. She received $579 from former board chair Steve Burton, $200 from Macfarlane Insurance and $400 from numbered company Dover Developments.
The LTA spent $4,477 to endorse seven candidates, five of whom made it onto the Board of Education. The LTA endorsed Johnson, McFarlane, Reekie, Dykeman and Ashdown, all of whom were elected. Douglas Smuland and McKendry were not.
Both Rod Ross and Alison McVeigh paid for their own campaigns. For Ross it was $1,341 out of his own pocket for his successful re-election to the board. McVeigh put in $1,643 of her own money.
Smuland’s campaign contributions totalled $869, of that $711 came from the LTA.
Pamala-Rose Combs spent $50. Brian Leonard spent $570.
More details about labour contributions to all campaigns will be published in the Tuesday, March 27 issue of the Langley Times.