By NOEL MURPHY
FORMER Geelong mayor John Mitchell received almost $40,000 in donations to his campaign for November’s mayoral election, City Hall documents have revealed.
The donation returns lodged at City Hall show Mr Mitchell received $20,000 from Fast Office Supplies, $15,000 from C Mitchell and $4500 from P Wight.
Mr Mitchell, a locomotive driver who maintained a second job with the railways while serving four years as mayor until 2012, finished fifth in the field of 16.
The next highest donation was for Rodger Marsden, an engineer at the former Shire of Corio, who received $11,699 from 10 benefactors.
Architect Greg Jones, who finished last in the poll, had the next highest return with $5750.
They were the only three candidates who reported donations under the disclosure declaration.
Election winner Mayor Darryn Lyons registered “N/A” – not applicable – on his return.
Former mayor Ken Jarvis, whose campaign was supported with regular full-page advertisements financed by local businessmen including Frank Costa, also declared “N/A”.
Mr Jarvis earlier stated the advertisements were run without his knowledge.
The remaining candidates also registered “N/A”.
Ratepayers spent more than $500,000 on the byelection to find a replacement for Keith Fagg who quit after nine months into his four-year term as Geelong’s first directly elected mayor.
He later cited stress for his resignation.
Cr Lyons won with a primary vote of 30 per cent, double his closest rival.
