Steve Kent leadership campaign received $170K in donations

Some of the most generous donors to the Steve Kent PC leadership campaign are not the typical names most commonly associated with politics in this province.

While Kent received his fair share of donations from firms in the construction industry, it was companies in the entertainment sector — bars, restaurants and at least one audio-visual company — and one of Kent's close associates with Scouts Canada that topped his list of donors.

Kent released a copy of his audited statement of receipts and disbursements to CBC News, and it shows the Mount Pearl North MHA and Minister of Health and Community Services received just under $170,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to his campaign.

That's substantially more than fellow candidate John Ottenheimer, who received $92,000.

The eventual winner of the controversial and hotly contested Sept. 13 leadership convention, Premier Paul Davis, had not released details of his campaign financing up to Monday afternoon.

The PC Party's own rules set a deadline of Dec. 12 to publicly release the campaign statements.

Party officials have not explained why they have missed their own deadline.

The executive director of the PC Party says not all of the statements were ready to release Friday.

"I didn't want to miss the deadline on Friday," said Sharon Vokey.

The party had copies of audited statements from Davis and Kent but was waiting to get a final copy of Ottenheimer's statements.

Vokey says the party wanted to wait, and release all the statements together.

She expects to be able to do that later Tuesday.

Kent overwhelmed, grateful for support

Meanwhile, the largest single donation to Kent's campaign — $7,000 — came from Safari Entertainment Inc., which is the franchisor for Jungle Jim's restaurants

A company called JR and NA Entertainment Inc., which owns Green Sleeves on George Street, contributed $5,100.

A donor referred to as 22 Pearl Place (division of Miranda Management Inc.) contributed $5,000. A web search of that address lists a company called Canadian AV Inc., an audio and visual company that regularly does work for the PC Party.

Brenda Sweeney, a member of Scouts Canada's national committee on marketing and communications, chipped in with $5,000 for Kent's campaign.

Kent, a former chief commissioner and chair of the board of governors for Scouts Canada, described Sweeney as a "personal friend."

Two others companies, Vanlyn Enterprises Ltd., and 51345 Newfoundland and Labrador Inc., also donated $5,000.

Kent ran a high-energy campaign with a special emphasis on social media. 

The bulk of his expenses, nearly $65,000, went to advertising and promotion, while another $40,000 was spent on convention expenses. Nearly $27,000 was spent on travel.

Kent finished third on the first ballot, and quickly gave his support to Davis.

Donations came in $2,500 shy of total expenses, which Kent will have to pay.

"I was overwhelmed with the level of support I received, and am greatly appreciative," he said. "I'm quite proud of the campaign."