Mund spent $8,500 to win

Vernon’s new mayor was outspent by more than two to one in last November’s five-way race for the city's top job.

Photo: Castanet Staff

Akbal Mund

Figures released by Elections BC show Akbal Mund spent just over $8,500 in his winning bid, compared to nearly $20,000 for runner-up Victor Cummings and just shy of $21,000 for third place finisher Mary Jo O’Keefe.

Klaus tribes spent about $2,500 and finished fourth, while fifth place Jamie Morrow didn’t have any expenses.

“I planned to spend about $10,000," said Mund. "I announced late, which was part of my strategy, and did a heavy 'up' in the last two weeks of the campaign. Others declared earlier and spent more."

Both Mund and O’Keefe received corporate donations from three of the same companies – Predator Ridge Golf Partnership gave each $1,500 dollars, while both Pageant Holdings Ltd. and Wesbild holdings Ltd. donated $1,750 dollars to the campaigns.

“I didn’t solicit any corporate donations, but didn’t want to offend anyone either when the funds were offered. I said thank you and carried on,” said Mund.

“I don’t think it’s odd that they donated to both. I guess they saw two candidates moving in the same direction.” 

One of Cummings' largest donations came from former mayor Rob Sawatsky, who contributed just over $4,300 dollars to the runner-up.

Newcomers to council spent the most money. Dalvir Nahal spent $6,772.75 with no external donations, Scott Anderson $3,300, Catherine Lord $3,203.61, Juliette Cunnigham $826.46, Bob Spiers $562.50, and Brian Quiring $385.