Campaign fundraising is the ugly side of politics that no one likes to acknowledge. Whether it is federal, provincial or municipal politics, they all have to fundraise.

That money is spent on lawnsigns, staff and everything that goes into a campaign for public office. The average donation total for a councilor elected in the 2014 Ottawa municipal election was $26,545. The councilors elected also averaged $10,192 in corporate/union donations, a type of donation which is banned in the city of Toronto.

OttWatch has compiled all donation records dating back to the 2004 election in Ottawa.

The most money raised in the 2014 election was $40,000 by Cumberland ward councilor Stephen Blais. The least amount was $4,000 by Captial ward councilor David Chernushenko.