Developers donated to mayor’s campaign

Several Halifax developers helped Mayor Mike Savage build a successful campaign by contributing $1,000 or more to his effort in the October 2020 municipal election.

Savage received nearly $105,000 in contributions from 150 people, according to the candidates' campaign contribution and expense statements released on Halifax Regional Municipality's website Wednesday.

Under the Municipal Elections Act, election candidates are required to report the campaign contributions they receive.

Among Savage's threepage list of contributors are developers Wadih Fares, Jim Spatz, Jason Brunt, Joseph Diab and Alexander Halef.

It appears Danny Chedrawe, president of Westwood Developments, also contributed to Savage's campaign, but the first name for two contributors with the surname Chedrawe were hole-punched through on the statement.

Diab, president of Baker Drive Developments, gave $2,500 to Savage's campaign, the most one person can contribute to a mayoral candidate as per the campaign financing bylaw that came into effect in November 2018.

Brunt, president of Clayton Developments, put forward $1,500, while Halef, president of BANC Group, contributed $1,000.

Fares, president and CEO of WM Fares, and Spatz, chairman and CEO of Southwest Properties, each contributed $1,500.

But Savage, now in his third term, wasn’t the only mayoral candidate to see money from Halef, Fares and Spatz.

Fares also contributed $1,500 to the mayoral campaign of Matt Whitman, a former councillor who ran for Savage’s position, while Halef gave $1,000 and Spatz $500.

Aside from the developers, more than 30 people, such as Rob Steele, CEO of Steele Auto Investments Ltd., and Dennis Campbell, CEO of Ambassatours, donated at least $1,000 to Savage’s campaign.

Savage pulled in significantly more financial contributions in comparison to competitors Whitman and Max Taylor, who received $19,030 and $1,193, respectively.

Savage, however, was not the only successful candidate to see support from developers during the municipal election.

Coun. Shawn Cleary received $1,000 from Halef and $500 from Spatz for his campaign.

Diab contributed $250 to Coun. Tony Mancini’s campaign, while Gordon Laing, president and CEO of Southwest Properties, contributed to Coun. David Hendsee’s campaign.

Laing also contributed $250 to the campaign of Richard Zurawski, who lost his run for re-election in District 12 to Coun. Iona Stoddard, and Spatz gave the same amount to Steve Streatch, who lost his run for reelection in District 1 to Coun. Cathy Deagle-gammon.

Some candidates, such as Coun. Trish Purdy and Coun. Lisa Blackburn, found success with little to no financial contributions from others.