Danielle Smith addresses her victory party crowd on Nov. 8, 2022 following the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection.--News File Photo
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The campaign to elect Premier Danielle Smith as the local MLA last fall spent the most in the November byelection, likely setting a local record to secure a seat for the United Conservative Party leader.
Smith won the Nov. 8 byelection with about 55 per cent of the vote, compared to 27 for the NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk and 17 for Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita.
But, she also spent about 50 per cent more at $78,860 than her closest challenger, Dirk, $52,993, according to financial statements filed with Elections Alberta and published at the reporting deadline Wednesday.
Smith campaign expenses matched her revenue, about two thirds of which came in large donations, close to $50,000, along with a $26,000 in party resources.
The top 10 donors gave more than $4,000 each and were all located in the Edmonton area or Calgary.
The New Democrats longstanding policy to direct all campaign-related and other donations to the central party, then transfer funds back. As such, byelection donations are not detailed in paperwork filed this month.
For comparison, the UCP winning campaign in the riding to elect Michaela Frey as its candidate in 2019 general election spent just under $58,000.
In the same contest, NDP challenger Lynn McWilliam worked with a budget of $16,300.
The increase makes it clear both of Alberta’s main parties put a premium on a good showing the high-profile race.
The Alberta Party poured resources into the race to promote Leader Barry Morishita, spending $46,037 in total.
Detailed statements show that the four-week campaign, Smith’s team spent $11,424 on polling, about the same amount it spent on advertising and pamphlets, and about $1,000 more than it spent on lawn signs.
Contributions greater than $250, which are detailed in disclosure forms, totalled $49,650, and smaller amounts $2,620.
Elections Alberta notes donations can be cash or gift of products or services.
Among the large donors, Alice, Joice and Randy Althiem are also listed as individual donors from the Edmonton area, giving between $3,000 and $4,300 each.
Smith’s campaign manager during the UCP leadership campaign was Mike Althiem, though it’s not immediately clear if there is a connection.
Other donors, Mike Butler and Alana Barager, each gave the maximum allowed by individual, $4,300. They are listed as the principles of Edmonton-area based government and public relations firm, Optimus Group.
Among donations from within the riding, three Bassano-based individuals with the last name Hale and living Bassano provided $2,500 in total.
Among 18 large donors, longtime local conservative-cause donors Lorne and Laurie Swalm, of Medicine Hat, each gave $1,000, and another $350 was provided by Bill Dearborn, another well-known local party supporter.
The Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta reported expenses totalling $1,010 in the campaign by leader Jeevan Mangat.
Independence Party of Alberta candidate Bob Blayone spent $12,840, winding up with a $1,400 surplus.
Financial statements related to the byelection from third-party advertisers are due May 8.
