The big-money race in Provo was supposed to be the battle between incumbent Steve Turley and former Provo fire chief Coy Porter, who are joined by BYU student Christopher Stowe. The seat represents the entire city, instead of a district, and candidates for the other citywide seat raised about $45,000 two years ago.

Instead, Turley had raised a relatively modest $3,041, Porter $2,550 and Stowe $900.

Turley had spent a little more than a third, leaving him, like Hernandez, with the ability to make a major push during the final week of primary campaigning, while Porter had spent all that he had raised.

Turley, who has been attacked as a developer, had donations of $1,000 from real-estate agent Thayne Bailey and $250 from Build PAC Utah, a local political-action committee representing homebuilders. Bailey also gave $200 to Johnson, who got the same amount from Build PAC Utah.

All but the $100 Stowe gave to his own campaign came from Texas and Colorado.

Some of the biggest fund-raisers, beyond Hernandez and Black, also got cash from themselves or family members.

Johnson gave herself $2,000 through her Wiz Kidz Preschool and received $750 from her husband, Rick. Porter gave himself $2,050 and got the rest of his money from his dad. Turley gave himself $750.

In Orem, incumbent Mark Seastrand gave himself $1,417.

In Provo District 4, Sherrie Hall Everett contributed half of her $2,200. She also got $500 from McCoard's nephew, Harry McCoard.

Developer David Gardner gave $500 each to Johnson and McCoard, who have been locked in the most bitter race, a rematch of Johnson's win four years ago. Tom Sitake raised most of his money with a luau fund-raiser.

Most of the money, especially in Orem, was spent on yard signs.

"That seems to be the strategy this year," Black said. "I invested heavily in signs."

Some candidates didn't raise any money, although they spent money. Orem's David Wright spent more than $1,200. Derek Whetten, who raised $50, spent $2,902.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com