Lawyer Bob Kasting says he picked a number at random in order to cap the donations he’ll accept as an independent candidate for Vancouver mayor. He said he came up with $5,000 per donor and he will take money from anyone, including those from the development industry.

“There has to be a recognition that people aren’t buying influence,” Kasting told the Straight in a phone interview. “And I don’t think you buy influence for $5,000 or $2,000 or $50 or a hundred.”

He suggested that there are concerns, however, when politicians hold lunches at $25,000 per plate, as occurred in March when condo marketer Bob Rennie raised funds for Mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision Vancouver party. Similarly, Kasting objected to a $960,000 donation made by developer Rob Macdonald to Vision’s main competitor, the Non-Partisan Association, in the 2011 election campaign.

Municipal election laws in B.C. don’t set limits for campaign donations and spending.

“The way it seems to operate is people—with a lot of influence that they want—pay a lot of money,” said Kasting, who has been endorsed by the Vancouver Cedar Party and The Electors Action Movement of the Lower Mainland Association.

Cedar, which is running four candidates for council, has a $2,400 annual limit for individual donations. TEAM previously decided to accept a maximum donation of $1,200 from individuals per year but eventually opted not to field candidates.

Another independent mayoral candidate, Colin Shandler, agrees that there should be limits on campaign donations.

“Am I concerned about developer donations to the large parties?” Shandler asked the Straight at his East Vancouver restaurant, the Tipper. “Absolutely.”

Told that Kasting has a $5,000 limit, the small-business owner said that he’s comfortable with $2,500 per donor. He said he has raised only $200 so far but “as an independent and a first-time candidate, I don’t even see the need for large amounts of money.”