A Coquitlam resident who ran for mayor last fall is banned from running for office in B.C. again until after the next general election.
Yesterday (Feb. 22), Elections BC named 48 civic candidates in the province who failed to file their disclosure statements by the second deadline.
Among those listed is Mark Mahovlich, who challenged incumbent mayor Richard Stewart and contender Adel Gamar last October.
Under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, Mahovlich is disqualified from seeking office in B.C. until after the 2026 vote.
In his nomination papers filed with the city last September, Mahovlich reported his home address as 3030 Gordon Ave. — a homeless shelter.
And, in his comments at the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce all-candidates meeting, he made personal attacks against Stewart.
Mahovlich, who previously ran against Stewart for the top job, has several criminal convictions from offences around the Lower Mainland.
Campaign donors
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Elections BC released the disclosure statements for civic candidates in B.C. who campaigned last fall, as well as elector organizations and third-party advertising sponsors.
According to the documents, Stewart took in $35,076 for his 2022 campaign — about the same as his 2018 run; he spent $36,926.
Among his financial contributors were:
- Neil Chrystal of Polygon
- James Allard of Coquitlam Concrete
- Bill Laidler, a Tri-City realtor
By comparison, Gamar, the chairperson of Douglas College’s board of directors, raised $23,397 and spent $32,742 to gain the mayor’s seat.
His contributors included:
- Carlo Zarrillo of Sandpiper Signs and husband of Port Moody–Coquitlam MP Bonita Zarrillo
- Fin Donnelly, a former MP and the incumbent MLA for Coquitlam–Burke Mountain
- Tri-City labour organizer Carolyn Turpin
- Fred Soofi, Pasta Polo restauranteur
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