"It's an issue that has come around the block every time there is an election in Eagle Mountain," Jackson said. "There are people in the city that think that if you take developer money that you're going to be owned by the developers.... When you do get money from developers, that doesn't mean that you're beholden to those developers. You should listen to them when they call you, but you shouldn't listen to them any differently than you would listen to your neighbor if they called you."

Four of the city's five City Council members say they never felt any pressure from developers as a result of their campaign, but Councilwoman Linn Strouse, who is running for re-election, disagrees. Strouse has vowed not to accept developer money in her campaign and even sent back an unsolicited $100 developer check via registered mail.

"I don't think receiving developer money necessarily makes you unethical, but the pressure I found that certain developers put on you is just not worth it," Strouse said. "I don't want to go there again."

Strouse is facing a second-degree felony charge of not disclosing a monetary gift she received from Walden while in office.

Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, who is Walden's legal representative for Eagle Mountain Properties, says it makes sense that developers contribute to campaigns because the companies have so much to lose based on city decisions.

"As developers, we put a lot of money into city coffers," Madsen said. "Campaign contributions are a pittance compared to the fees we pay on every single house that is constructed, not to mention the infrastructure we build and hand over to the city as a finished product. When you're putting that kind of money and those kinds of resources into city coffers, you want to make sure that people are in office that will do the right thing with that money, and that's not always the case."

Madsen said Eagle Mountain Properties gave a monetary donation to every candidate in this election to support the political process, but he is wary of who will be elected. Political fiascoes don't benefit developers when they're trying to attract more businesses, Madsen said. Former Mayor Brian Olsen was supported by Walden in his 2005 election before he resigned from office and was charged with three felony counts of misuse of public funds.

"We've had a limited talent pool in the past," Madsen said. "Hopefully we have some good candidates this time around that will be conscientious stewards of the people's money."

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