Hugh MacDonald leads Liberals in fundraising
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Alberta Liberal leadership candidate Hugh MacDonald has a substantive fundraising lead over the other contenders for the party's top job, according to financial disclosures released this week.
MacDonald has raised $50,780 in funds for his candidacy, including sizable donations from Union Local 488, and the Boilermaker's Lodge #146.
"I have been pleased with the donations we have received to date. It's a sign of widespread political support," he said Tuesday.
Of his kitty, at least $10,000 was donated by the Boilermaker's union. However, MacDonald said he didn't receive an undue level of union support. "I'm a member in good standing with the Boilermakers for well over 20 years and I really appreciate the support they have provided to us."
In comparison to the fundraising garnered by the PC party, MacDonald adds his campaign is still operating on a shoestring budget.
"Our totals wouldn't pay the diesel for Gary Mar's bus," he said, referring to the PC leadership candidate's cross-province tour bus. "I can't imagine what that fuel bill would be over the summer."
Mar has raised more than $1.3 million in his bid for the PC leadership and de facto Alberta premiership, while other Conservative candidates are expected to bring in more than $1 million.
Dr. Raj Sherman, a former Conservative MLA turned Liberal leadership hopeful, has raised $36,672 as of Sept. 5.
"That's fantastic if Hugh reached 50 Grand, that's great," said the Edmonton-Meadowlark MLA.
Sherman said most of his donations have trickled in small denominations as he's collected much of his money through his Obama-modelled website.
Still, "this pales in comparison to what the PCs have. As you can see, the Liberals are not the heavily financed leadership campaign."
The other three Liberal leadership candidates all raised less than $20,000 for their campaigns, according to the party's website.
Veteran Edmonton MLA Laurie Blakeman has collected $15,088, union leader Bruce Payne raised $15,200 (as of Aug. 2.) while Calgary businessman Bill Harvey garnered $6,125.
Alberta Liberal party executive director, Corey Hogan, said overall donations to this year's leadership race have been healthy.
"As an aggregate, there's more than there was in the 2008 contest, no question," he said.
As an opposition party, it's always difficult to raise funds, he added. "The standing policy is that a lot of companies, in general, avoid leadership politics," he said. "There are people who will contribute to a party, but they won't contribute to leadership candidates."
In the meantime, the party now boasts an additional 28,000 members who will be eligible to vote for a leader come Sept. 10 - the result of an aggressive demon-dialler campaign and the liberalization of the voting criteria.
jgerson@calgaryherald.com
MacDonald has raised $50,780 in funds for his candidacy, including sizable donations from Union Local 488, and the Boilermaker's Lodge #146.
"I have been pleased with the donations we have received to date. It's a sign of widespread political support," he said Tuesday.
Of his kitty, at least $10,000 was donated by the Boilermaker's union. However, MacDonald said he didn't receive an undue level of union support. "I'm a member in good standing with the Boilermakers for well over 20 years and I really appreciate the support they have provided to us."
In comparison to the fundraising garnered by the PC party, MacDonald adds his campaign is still operating on a shoestring budget.
"Our totals wouldn't pay the diesel for Gary Mar's bus," he said, referring to the PC leadership candidate's cross-province tour bus. "I can't imagine what that fuel bill would be over the summer."
Mar has raised more than $1.3 million in his bid for the PC leadership and de facto Alberta premiership, while other Conservative candidates are expected to bring in more than $1 million.
Dr. Raj Sherman, a former Conservative MLA turned Liberal leadership hopeful, has raised $36,672 as of Sept. 5.
"That's fantastic if Hugh reached 50 Grand, that's great," said the Edmonton-Meadowlark MLA.
Sherman said most of his donations have trickled in small denominations as he's collected much of his money through his Obama-modelled website.
Still, "this pales in comparison to what the PCs have. As you can see, the Liberals are not the heavily financed leadership campaign."
The other three Liberal leadership candidates all raised less than $20,000 for their campaigns, according to the party's website.
Veteran Edmonton MLA Laurie Blakeman has collected $15,088, union leader Bruce Payne raised $15,200 (as of Aug. 2.) while Calgary businessman Bill Harvey garnered $6,125.
Alberta Liberal party executive director, Corey Hogan, said overall donations to this year's leadership race have been healthy.
"As an aggregate, there's more than there was in the 2008 contest, no question," he said.
As an opposition party, it's always difficult to raise funds, he added. "The standing policy is that a lot of companies, in general, avoid leadership politics," he said. "There are people who will contribute to a party, but they won't contribute to leadership candidates."
In the meantime, the party now boasts an additional 28,000 members who will be eligible to vote for a leader come Sept. 10 - the result of an aggressive demon-dialler campaign and the liberalization of the voting criteria.
jgerson@calgaryherald.com
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