Sudbury mayor still fundraising after election

Post-election fundraising has kept Greater Sudburys Mayor Marianne Matichuk busy during her first year in office.

According to public records, she raised $70,000 to cover debts leftover from her election campaign in 2010.

Matichuk spent $116,000 on her campaign more than all of her competitors combined.

She won her seat with 25,042 votes to overtake former mayor John Rodriguez, who garnered 19,819 votes.

Dozens of new contributors came forward after Matichuk was sworn in as mayor.

The real estate company that bought the old St. Joseph hospital gave $1,500. During the campaign, the company had only donated to the Rodriguez campaign.

Other contributors were Sudbury Regional Hospital CEO Denis Roy, City Councillor Doug Craig, former city chief administrative officer Mark Mieto and Liberal MPP Rick Bartolucci's wife Maureen.

Park Lawn Cemetery, the Sudbury Islamic Association and the Toronto Dominion Bank also donated to the Matichuk campaign after the election.

Matichuk used newer forms of marketing to raise awareness of her fundraising efforts. She used social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to ask for support.

Matichuk was far enough behind on her fundraising goals that she asked for a fundraising extension this past winter after her campaign finished $34,000 in the red even after taking $38,000 from her own pocket to help pay for campaign expenses.