Mayoral donors hedging their bets

Dozens of big donors — developers, businessmen, labor unions and politicians — quietly are hedging their bets on who will win the Salt Lake City's crowded mayoral race this year.

Instead of simply donating to their favorite candidate, each is giving money to as many as four. After all, if they bet on just one candidate who loses, they might not have as much access or influence with the eventual winner.

So, 66 big donors are giving to multiple candidates — and the 66 have provided about $1 of every $12 in the overall race so far.

Sometimes to their embarrassment, candidates often ballyhoo on campaign Web sites the supposedly key endorsements they receive from people who turn out to be also donating to other mayoral candidates. Some such donors even manage to appear on the endorsement lists of more than one candidate.

In the current campaign, many people and/or businesses have focused their giving on either Democrats or Republicans, showing a clear partisan loyalty. Others, however, have donated money to both a Democrat and a Republican.

Such is the case with former GOP state executive director and current lobbyist Spencer Stokes. He has given $1,000 each to both Dave Buhler and Jenny Wilson. Buhler is a Republican on the Salt Lake City Council, while Wilson is a Democrat on the Salt Lake County Council.

"I gave because of friendship and political reality," Stokes said. "I gave to Buhler because he is a long-time friend. But I don't think a Republican can win in Democratic-leaning Salt Lake City. I gave to Jenny because she is a Democrat I can support, who will try to build a consensus in the city and work with people, including the LDS Church."

Stokes said that should neither Buhler nor Wilson come out of the Sept. 11 primary, "I'll probably end up giving to a third candidate — one in the final."

Well-known businessman Kem Gardner and his wife, Carolyn, gave $15,000 to Keith Christensen, a former City Council member, and an additional $100 to Wilson. Said Kem Gardner: "Jenny is like a goddaughter to me. I've been friends with Ted (Wilson, Jenny's father) and Jenny forever. But I promised my support to Keith before Jenny got in the race. And like many downtown businessmen, I'm supporting a businessman in Keith because I think that is what we need right now."

Leveling the field?

Another multiple-giver is developer Dell Loy Hansen. He was in the recent, now-infamous hallway fracas with Mayor Rocky Anderson after the mayor asked the City Council to reconsider a $6 million redevelopment loan it earlier granted to Hansen's company.