Ad in Provo daily hurls mud at mayor, council hopefuls

What would Provo politics be without a late-hour ambush of municipal candidates by a phantom political organization?

Someone or a bunch of someones again used that tactic to jump on mayoral candidate Lewis K. Billings and City Council candidate Greg Hudnall this week. A half-page newspaper advertisement headlined "What Stinks in Provo" raises questions about the character of both men.The ad is fraught with vagaries and inaccuracies.

A group calling itself Ethics 4 Provo paid for the space in the Daily Herald. A half-page ad costs about $1,000. Karl J. Thalman and Jim Daley, Billings' and Hudnall's opponents respectively, said they don't know anything about it. The Thalman camp says the ad is hurting not helping its campaign.

Unlike the state, Provo does not have a law requiring political action committees to register.

The advertisement is similar to attack ads Councilwoman Shari Holweg and Daley have used in past elections. Holweg lost the mayoral race to George Stewart in 1993.

The ad says Stewart chose Billings to be Provo's chief administrative officer as a political payoff. Billings did support Stewart's 1993 mayoral bid. It also says Stewart "stepped over the line of ethical conduct" when he appointed Billings to the position.

"I asked the city attorney what that meant," the mayor said. "He said that means you're a crook."

Stewart said he will not tolerate his integrity being impugned. What really stinks in Provo, he said, is that those who placed the ad didn't have the courage to attach their names to it.

Another ad Tuesday questioning Billings' qualifications was paid for by "Ethics 4 Provo - Kent Barrus, chairman."

Barrus, a Provo resident, says he is a front man for people who don't want to see Billings or Hudnall elected. Barrus said he has never met the candidates, although he had a long talk with Billings about the ads Monday night. The research for the ads was done by others. Barrus said he did review the information.

He called the ads "unpleasant but called for."

"It was done mostly for impact and to raise questions," he said, adding it put Billings on the defensive.

Barrus said Daley and Thalman were not involved but would not confirm whether Holweg is involved.

Billings spent most of Monday trying to explain questions raised in the ads.