Ashton’s $30K donation awaiting final byelection bill

PENTICTON – A politician will make the news by donating roughly $30,000 back to the taxpayers and no, it is not one of the Canadian senators currently under investigation for fraud.

Former mayor and MLA Dan Ashton pledged to cover Penticton's byelection costs, up to $35,000, if he resigned to run as the Liberal candidate in the May 14 provincial election. Ashton has repeatedly told the press he would fulfill his promise and is now waiting for the final bill.

The Sept. 7 byelection, which saw former councilor Garry Litke take the mayor's chair and the return of former councillor Katie Robinson, cost taxpayers $27,700. Corporate officer Dana Schmidt said there are still a few amounts yet to be determined. When that's completed Ashton will get the final total and will present a cheque at a future council meeting.

To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065, tweet @shannonquesnel1 or @InfoNewsPentict