Poway’s new mayor spent $3.30 per vote

What does it cost to be elected mayor of Poway? Try $3.30 per vote.

That’s what Steve Vaus spent to move over from his City Council seat in the November election, according to state-required campaign financing statements that were due to City Hall on Monday.

Don Higginson spent $3.55 per vote in his unsuccessful mayor re-election campaign.

The reports show that Vaus collected far more campaign contributions than Higginson yet barely outspent him. That’s because Higginson put $7,500 of his own money into his campaign while Vaus depended entirely on contributions.

In the lightly-contested for two City Council seats, incumbent Dave Grosch spent only 34 cents per vote in leading a field of three candidates while incumbent John Mullin was re-elected by spending 62 cents per vote. Chris Olps, who placed third, did not raise or spend enough money to reach the reporting threshold.

The final vote total showed Vaus receiving 8,481 votes (55.3 percent) to 6,855 votes for Higginson.

In his end-of-campaign summary, Vaus reported collecting $27,902, including $1,700 between Oct. 19 (the first day of the of the last required reporting period) and Dec. 31. There were 15 donations of between $50 and the allowed maximum of $100, plus a $10 donation from his son. All but one of the donors listed Poway addresses.

Higginson reported total campaign contributions of $19,861, plus the loan to himself. He listed 19 contributions of between $50 and $100. Five of those were from Poway addresses.

The difference in campaign spending between Vaus and Higginson was only $656, according to their statements. Vaus listed $28,016, including $5,227 since Oct. 19 while Higginson listed $27,360 in expenses, including $4,686 since Oct. 19. Vaus indicated his campaign closed out the year debt-free while Higginson’s report showed the $7,500 loan as an outstanding debt.

Grosch received 10,657 votes (45.3 percent) and reported collecting $3,596 and spent the same amount during the entire campaign.

Mullin, who received 8,979 votes (38.2 percent) reported collecting and spending $5,600 during the campaign. Three donors, two living in Poway, donated $100 each after Oct. 18.

Olps collected 3,883 votes (16.5 percent).