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The same financial statements, however, show former mayor Matt Brown also hired Red Rhino to prepare his 2018 address and spent more than $6,000, less than half of Holder’s spending.

Brown, who didn’t seek re-election in last fall’s civic election, incurred total expenses of $16,811 last year.

Holder, a former London Conservative MP and cabinet minister, was sworn into office during the first week of December.

His reported expenses were submitted by Dec. 31. They include $11,500 to Red Rhino, $2,000 to Lashbrook and $800 to a Karen Marshall, for work on the address — a key event on the London civic calendar held by the London Chamber of Commerce as a fundraiser.

“I find that excessive. When I hear a mayor is speaking about the city, I want to know what he has to say. I’m not impressed with videos,” said Andrew Sancton, professor emeritus in political science at Western University.

“The mayor already has their attention. He does not need glitz.”

Besides for his address, Holder’s expenses included $534 for gifts and souvenirs, $305 for entertainment and $330 to meet with Premier Doug Ford.

Photo by Mike Hensen/The London Free Press

“Matt was a very frugal guy, he was very tight” with spending, said Coun. Jesse Helmer, who sits on the corporate services committee. “It is good to have discussion around it, but I don’t have a problem with it. Look at how many were in the audience. It reached a lot of people.”

The Jan. 24 state-of-the-city address was sold out, with a crowd of 1,400.