Toronto mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone talks to the Globe and Mail editorial board, Oct. 14, 2010.Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail
The Layton-Chow clan, Sam (the Record Man) Sniderman and a slew of lobbyists, developers and union bigwigs are among the thousands of people who have donated at least $850,000 to Joe Pantalone's campaign.
The deputy mayor is the first major mayoral candidate to voluntarily release his list of contributors - a gesture that isn't legally required until five months after voting day, but which has become routine in mega-city elections.
"Joe feels it's important for politicians, just like the government they serve in, to be transparent," Mike Smith, a spokesman for Mr. Pantalone, said.
The Rob Ford campaign is promising to release its donor roster Thursday, while George Smitherman's camp has said it won't reveal its donors until long after election day.
Elections Toronto requires all 2010 candidates to submit a final financial report by March 25, 2011, including the names and addresses of everyone who contributed $100 or more.
David Miller and Jane Pitfield revealed their donor lists before the 2006 election. Mr. Miller, Barbara Hall and John Tory all did so in 2003.
Mr. Pantalone's preliminary fundraising total - the list includes donations received up until Oct. 15 - is well short of the campaign spending limit of just over $1.3-million.
Most of Mr. Pantalone's big cheques arrived in the spring. Since the beginning of September, Mr. Pantalone has only received 40 donations of $1,000 or more, something Mr. Smith attributed to "normal people who aren't political insiders" overtaking deep-pocketed donors.
Toronto banned corporate and union donations for the first time in this municipal election. But that hasn't kept union leaders, developers and lobbyists from making personal donations to Mr. Pantalone's campaign.
John Cartwright, the head of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, gave $500; Bob Kinnear, the head of the TTC workers' union, gave $100; and Alan Menkes, a major developer, gave the maximum donation of $2,500.
Lobbyists Paul Sutherland, Paul Christie and lobbyists from Sussex Strategy Group made contributions as well.
"We can't personally vet every individual who gives us donations," Mr. Smith said. "That wouldn't exactly serve the interests of democracy."
Mr. Pantalone's list includes some surprises.
Mr. Sniderman donated $1,000. Councillor Joe Mihevc donated $300 in March, months before he abandoned his left-leaning ally to call for a strategic vote for Mr. Smitherman.
Andrew Pask, Mr. Ford's former executive assistant, donated $250.
Meanwhile, federal NDP Leader Jack Layton gave $750, his wife, MP Olivia Chow, gave $850 and his son, Mike Layton, donated $800.
Mr. Pantalone, who polls say is lagging well behind the front-runners, can take heart in knowing that his campaign manager has put his money where this mouth is.
John Laschinger has donated $2,400 of his own cash to Mr. Pantalone.
Kelly Grant