Cheveldayoff top fundraiser in leadership race

But Koch, another front-runner for Sask. Party’s top position, isn’t far behind

Saskatchewan Party leadership candidate Ken Cheveldayoff continues to out-fundraise the four people he is competing against to become the next premier of the province.

From the time the race began in August until the end of 2017, Cheveldayoff raised $276,547.

But in the time covered in the second round of financial disclosures from the party — Nov. 1 to the end of December — it was Alanna Koch who raised the most money.

Her campaign pocketed $129,122, making her the top fundraiser over that time period. Over the same span, Cheveldayoff, raised $99,019.

Overall, Koch’s campaign has raised $261,156, putting her second overall in dollars raised behind Cheveldayoff. Both are considered front-runners in the race to replace outgoing premier Brad Wall.

Trailing them in overall dollars is Scott Moe, also considered a strong contender.

Moe’s camp raised $227,625 overall, and $88,899 in the final months of 2017.

Gord Wyant’s campaign raised $219,509 ($108,328 in November and December), while Tina Beaudry-Mellor’s fundraising efforts continue to lag way behind her opponents: she has raised $50,967 in the entire race (including $16,543 since November).

In terms of stability of funding, Koch’s campaign did the best job.

While each campaign raised less money in the final months than they did in the beginning, Koch’s funding dropped only two per cent. Wyant’s funding dropped just three per cent.

Cheveldayoff and Moe, despite their high overall totals, are largely operating on dollars received in the beginning of the race.

In November and December, they raised 44 per cent and 36 per cent less, respectively, than they did during the first reporting period.

Despite boasting the highest total, Cheveldayoff can only use $250,000 of what he raised — the rest of the cash will go to party headquarters due to a spending cap placed on the candidates.

In that sense, Cheveldayoff’s campaign and Koch’s campaign will end on par with one another.

Looking strictly at the numbers, that isn’t the only place where the two remain close.

Koch’s campaign reported 89 individuals donating more than $250 to her campaign, putting her at the front of the pack in that category. Cheveldayoff comes in second, with 60 individuals. Wyant isn’t far behind at 53. Moe (27) and Tina Beaudry-Mellor (10) bring up the rear.

Moe does better when it comes to donations lower than $250 from individuals, with his camp reporting 110 of them. But he is still bested by Cheveldayoff and Koch, who reported 128 individual donations under $250.

Wyant led the way in the second round of funding for corporate donations, with 44. Cheveldayoff (32) and Koch (31) trailed him.

What remains unclear is how campaign funding will have on the leadership results. That will be determined Jan. 27, when the party’s new leader — and the province’s next premier — is crowned.