Election financing continues to generate interest
September 24, 2006

Concerns about fair election financing are continuing to attract attention in the local media. In particular, the concerns raised about corporate and union donations are generating widespread comment and analysis.

Recent media articles include an essay by lawyer Kieran Dickson published this week in the Mountain News and the Stoney Creek News. Dickson notes that “as a matter of law, corporate decision-makers are obliged to act strictly in accordance with the best business interests of the corporation” and that this effectively “requires directors and officers to decide whether any payment (of any type) is likely to result in an increase in share value by an amount which is greater than the payment itself.”

He argues this means corporate donations to politicians must be intended to benefit shareholders.

“In the case of a campaign donation, the only thing of value that a corporation can obtain is political influence – not necessarily decisive influence on a particular vote, but some sort of influence which has a real impact on the corporation's bottom line,” writes Dickson, and “whether our councillors and mayor realize that this is the case, the generous corporate sponsors of so many candidates have an expectation that the corporation will receive a good return on their investment, through votes or policies which directly or indirectly assist the corporation in making money.”

The on-line magazine Raise the Hammer has devoted a section of its website to the election. A recent article by Jason Leach responded to the argument raised by some that banning corporate and union donations will mean that election campaigns are less professional.

“Give me an election where the winner is chosen on his/her ideas, vision and leadership, not simply on who has the slickest billboards or radio spots,” says Leach. “Our city will be better off almost immediately once our democratic system is about the health and future of Hamilton instead of about catering to special interest groups.”

The Community Action Network has made municipal election financing reform one of its key objectives. It is conducting a survey of council candidates and will post its ranking of councillors on its website.

The weekly View Magazine continues to cover municipal issues. This week's edition carries an article by Don McLean that asks specific questions about the 2003 election donations scandal uncovered by Joanna Chapman. McLean asks the mayor to “explain exactly how his campaign honestly accepted all these illegal donations.”

Fifty candidates registered for council elections

With a little less than a week to go until the close of nominations, 50 people have already stepped forward as candidates in the November 13 elections for mayor or city councillor. At this point, 37 people are running for trustee on either the public or catholic school boards.

In the council races, there is more than one candidate for all but three of the available positions. Sitting councillors Maria Pearson in ward 10 and Chad Collins in ward 5 are unopposed at this point. Robert Pasuta is the only registered candidate in Flamborough's ward 15 where incumbent Dave Braden has thrown his hat into the mayoralty race. However, city employee Grant Maloney earlier announced that he will register before nominations close on Friday afternoon.

Wards without an incumbent have attracted the largest number of candidates. There are now six nominated for Bill Kelly's ward 7 seat, and five for Murray Ferguson's empty position in Ancaster. The position being vacated in Dundas by Art Samson has attracted four contenders. Two incumbents – Terry Whitehead in ward 8 and Bob Bratina in ward 2 – are also in four-person races. Eight people have registered to run for mayor.

There are already more candidates for public school trustee than ran in 2003, and so far only two of the eleven seats could be filled by acclamation. One of those is Judith Bishop who was also unopposed in the last election. The other is Jessica Brennan, also an incumbent. Altogether, 24 people are running for public school trustee. That's already two more than stood in the 2003 election.

Interest in a position on the catholic school board is muted with only two contested seats at this point – in the combined ward one and two seat, and in ward five. And there are only two contenders in each of those races. The other nine seats on the catholic board could be filled by acclamation if no one else steps forward this week. Seven catholic board trustees were acclaimed in 2003.

Fifty-nine people ran for mayor or council in 2003. The only acclamation in that election was Dave Mitchell in Glanbrook. This fall, he is facing at least two opponents. Candidates have until 5 pm on Friday to register, and may withdraw up until 5 pm the following Monday. The filing fee is $100 for a councillor or trustee position, and $200 to run for mayor.

Any Hamilton resident who is a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old can be a candidate unless specifically disqualified. Payment of the filing is required at the time of nomination, along with proof of identify and residency. Procedures and a list of registered candidates can be found on the city's website.