School trustee races could see rule changes
The spectre of rules being changed on campaign donations for Alberta school trustees could significantly alter how some candidates finance their bids for office, they say.
Edmonton public school trustee candidates relied on thousands of dollars donated by unions and businesses in the 2017 municipal election, their disclosure statements released publicly last week show.
The provincial government plans to introduce legislation this fall that will reform municipal election campaign financing in Alberta, Lauren Arscott, press secretary for the minister of municipal affairs, said in a Thursday email.
“We’ve heard from many people that they want to take big money out of politics, and we are committed to ensuring this review takes Albertans’ concerns into account,” she said.
Since taking office in 2015, the province has removed corporate and union donations from provincial politics and capped individual annual political donations at $4,000 a year.
Unlike rules for municipal candidates, no limits exist for how much school trustee candidates can spend on campaigns. The law also excludes school board candidates from rules about disclosing their donor lists, but both Edmonton Catholic and public school boards have adopted bylaws requiring them to name all donors who give more than $100.
In the public school board election, nine candidates accepted donations from businesses, and seven disclosed union donations. Eight candidates self-financed all campaign expenses.
Public school trustee Ken Gibson ran a $16,747 campaign where 84 per cent of the money came from companies in the building trades.
Gibson, executive director of the Alberta Construction Association, said it takes money to reach the approximately 100,000 people in a public school ward by mail, electronically and with lawn signs. Removing corporate and union donations could make campaigning more difficult, he said.
“For my future candidacy, I think it would put it in jeopardy. I’m getting too damn old to be walking around,” said Gibson, 59.
Money, however, doesn’t necessarily buy you a school board seat. Poet Ahmed (Knowmadic) Ali was the top fundraising public candidate, with a $37,058 campaign — a success he attributes to his volunteer work and community connections. He lost to incumbent Cheryl Johner, who spent $1,029.
Public school trustee Bridget Stirling received $8,184 from organized labour in the 2017 campaign, which was the most donated by organized labour to any trustee candidate.
She wants union and corporate donations out of civic campaigns, saying it will level the playing field.
If the rules are changed, it should happen soon to give prospective candidates more time to fundraise from individual donors, she said.
In 2015, the public school board voted to advocate for the government to ban corporate and union donations from municipal elections, and allow tax credits for donations.
Trustee Michael Janz, who introduced that motion, still hopes the government takes that step — even though his campaign received $6,300 from organized labour.
“Until that changes, it’s really difficult to turn down a donation,” Janz said. “Great. Take it. Now I can reach another neighbourhood.”
The ban would give candidates a stronger case to appeal to supporters for more plentiful donations, he said.
Although in favour of a ban, trustee Shelagh Dunn said it might affect how many flyers and postcards she’s able to disseminate in campaigns. She doesn’t love asking people for money, either.
Edmonton Catholic school trustee candidates attracted more modest campaign contributions in 2017. Just two candidates had businesses as donors, and none received union donations. Nine candidates paid out of pocket for everything, including top spender Lisa Turchansky, who put more than $20,000 into unseating incumbent Marilyn Bergstra in southwest Edmonton.
“I believe Catholic education is extremely important and I am passionate about having a voice in the faith-based education our students receive,” Turchansky said in a Thursday email. “I consider
all dollars spent on this campaign were an investment in the future of our students.”
Both public and Catholic disclosure records became publicly available last week.