Spending big didn't guarantee win for candidates in 2015 N.W.T. election

Elections NWT has released candidates' financial reports for the 2015 territorialelection, and they showthat spending big on campaigns helped, but was noguarantee of a win.

Five Yellowknife candidates running in the November 23 election ran campaigns that cost more than $19,000. Campaign spending includes the purchase of things such as signs and otheradvertising, office spaceand travel.

By a small margin, incumbent Kam Lake MLA DaveRamsaywas the biggest spender of the2015 election. Ramsay'scampaign cost$22,787.15, but he also pulled in hefty donations of about $21,000. That wasn't enough to win though.KieronTestartonly spent $12,446.59, but took the riding on election day.

In Yellowknife North, Dan Wong's campaign cost $21,852.60. It wasn't enough to beat elected MLA Cory Vanthuyne though, who spent $19,986.03. Vanthuyne also spentmore of his own money than any other candidate, shelling out more than $13,000 of his own cash.

Julie Green, now MLA for Yellowknife Centre, spent $21,133.75, but racked up the most donations of any candidate, with more than 70 donors contributing about $20,000.

Green beat incumbent Robert Hawkins, who spent $19,475.76 on hiscampaign.

Numbers dip outside Yellowknife

The spending numbers dip dramatically in ridings outside of Yellowknife, averaging well under $10,000 per campaign.

Mackenzie Delta's David Krutkoand Yellowknife North's Sean Erasmus tiedfor the most frugal candidates.Theyreceived no contributions and spent nothing. They also finished last in their respective ridings.

Jackson Lafferty, who was acclaimed as the only candidate in Monfwi, also spent nothing and received no donations.

Jane Groenewegen, who was unseated in Hay River South after serving 20 years as an MLA, spent $20,064.20 on her re-election bid. The successful candidate, Wally Shuman, spent$14,920.97.