New Tecumseth mayor's re-election campaign funded mostly by out-of-town donors
Mayor, deputy mayor easily surpass other candidates in expenses, donations
Simcoe.com
April 11, 2019
Brad Pritchard
New Tecumseth Mayor Rick Milne and Deputy Mayor Richard Norcross were the biggest spenders during the 2018 municipal election campaign.
The financial reports released by the town show Milne spent $16,688.16, followed closely by Norcross who forked out $16,446.35.
But Milne easily outpaced everyone else when it comes to donations.
Milne received a total of $16,475 from 16 donors, only four of which were from residents of New Tecumseth. The 12 other donations, which amount to $13,200, came from people living in municipalities throughout the GTA.
Twelve of the donation amounts were $1,200, which is the maximum allowed for any single candidate in a municipal election. A maximum donation of $5,000 is allowed for multiple candidates in a single jurisdiction.
Five of the $1,200 donations came from members of the Romano family, who live in Thornhill, Toronto, Vaughan and Woodbridge. The family has ties to a Toronto-based real estate development company called Castlepoint Numa. The company's president is Alfredo Romano, but he is not one of the donors. A real estate listing shows the company has development interests at three properties on the 12th Line of New Tecumseth south of Alliston.
Milne's financial report from the 2014 election shows that the majority of donations he received came from non-residents with development interests.
While the reports shed light on how the mayor uses these donations to fund his election campaigns, there is nothing illegal about them. The Municipal Elections Act allows candidates to accept donations from any resident of Ontario, even if they live outside the municipality.
Milne told Simcoe.com he was more comfortable accepting or soliciting donations from people outside the town. He said the $2,200 he accepted locally was from people he knows well who won't ask for "favours" down the road, like getting a building permit for a deck or a job at the town for a family member.
"I've had that in the past and it's embarrassing, and (I told them) 'Sorry I can't help you," he said.
Milne doesn't take issue with accepting donations from non-residents with local development interests, even though they could also ask for favours, adding he "played within the rules" of the elections act.
"It was made very clear when I accepted the donations there were no strings attached," he said.
Milne’s competitor Tony Veltri had six donations, five of which came from residents of New Tecumseth and one from Caledon, totaling $2,000. Veltri spent $5,658.63.
The deadline for candidates to file campaign financial statements was March 26 at 2 p.m.
The spending limits for mayoral candidates was $30,264.70 and for deputy mayor candidates it was $27,764.70. The limit for councillors varies, with Ward 8 the highest at $8,896.40 and Ward 5 the lowest at $6,786.70.
Deputy Mayor Richard Norcross received 10 donations worth $8,750, J.J. Paul Whiteside garnered six donations worth $2,000 and spent $7,248.91, and Peter Barbati received no donations and spent $1,335.58.
The town has published the financial information for 28 of the 31 candidates who ran in the election (Peter Anderson’s form is blank, and Paul Beaton and Cam Simone didn't submit their forms.
The expense total for the 28 candidates was $99,078.99 and for donations it was $44,357.
To view the reports visit newtecumseth.ca/en/town-hall/election.aspx
Council members:
Ward 1 Coun. Wayne Noye
Spent: $2,030.72
Donations: $0
Terrina Williams
Spent: $3,806.91
Donations: $1,600
Ward 2 Coun. Michael Beattie
Spent: $3,660.25
Donations: $2,200
Lorrie Macfarlane
Spent: $0
Donations: N/A
Laurie Mortimer
Spent: $300
Donations: $0
Ward 3 Coun. Paul Foster
Spent: $4,316.24
Donations: $0
Chris Rapin
Spent: $2,054.38
Donations: $0
Ward 4 Coun. Fran Sainsbury
Spent: $5,494.49
Donations: $4,050
Peter Anderson
Spent: N/A
Donations: N/A
Gayla McDonald
Spent: $3,250.30
Donations: $1,500
Stephen Dolson
Spent: $199.47
Donations: $0
Ward 5 Coun. Donna Jebb
Spent: $5,658,63
Donations: $2,000
Nicole Cox
Spent: $1,792.16
Donations: $750
Craig Jordan
Spent: $0
Donations: $0
Ward 6 Coun. Stephanie MacLellan
Spent: $4,156.39
Donations: $1,982
Doug Kowalinski
Spent: $825
Donations: $0
Russell Woodward
Spent: $2,209.29
Donations: $0
Paul Beaton
Spent: N/A
Donations: N/A
Ward 7 Coun. Shira Harrison McIntyre
Spent: $2,330.90
Donations: $0
Dave Wood
Spent: $2,850.24
Donations: $450
Ward 8 Coun. Alan Lacey
Spent: $1,639.03
Donations: $400
Charlene Ryan
Spent: $2,536.63
No donations
Oliver Stone
Spent: $2006.85
No donations
Stuart Starbuck
Spent: $1,082.77
Donations: $200
