From Deseret News archives:
Lampropoulos makes sure his name isn't forgotten
The guy with the strange billboards, making fun of his own last name? Ran for governor this spring? Spent a lot of money doing it?
Well, you probably haven't heard the last of Lampropoulos, who was knocked out of the governor's race in the May 8 GOP convention.
In fact, the gregarious medical firm CEO says he will likely restart his radio homilies — where he talks about what's right about America and other issues — come January.
And the guy who spent nearly $3 million getting his name out to Utahns these past 18 months says he's had discussions with other Republicans about taking another run at political office as soon as 2006.
"I don't have to run again for any office," Lampropoulos said this past week from Richfield, where he was addressing a rural economic summit. He said his life is complete as it is. "But I'm going to stay active in politics."
While Lampropoulos won't say his future KSL radio addresses, like his 2003 versions, are for political reasons, they will "keep his name out there," says Dave Hansen, a longtime GOP consultant who ran Lampropoulos' 2004 gubernatorial campaign.
Lampropoulos, CEO, chairman and major stockholder of Merit Medical Systems, set a record for spending in a pre-party convention governor's race this year.
Hansen says that Lampropoulos spent around $2.93 million of his own money on a race where he finished third — out of the running — in the Republican nominating convention.
That total includes around $325,000 Lampropoulos spent out of his own pocket on his radio homilies, money not seen on any campaign financial statement because it was spent in 2003 before Lampropoulos was an official candidate.
Lampropoulos sold off chunks of his Merit Medical stock last year to fuel his political machine. But the firm is growing, setting record profits last quarter, said Lampropoulos, and he clearly isn't hurting for money. A May review by the Deseret Morning News of his public holdings shows he was worth around $25 million.
The flamboyant Lampropoulos has no political regrets. "Could I have done things differently strategically" to get out of the convention? "Sure, but I have nothing but fond memories of the campaign."
In fact, the money he spent and the public get-to-know-me campaign he ran is a foundation for any future run for office.
"I get calls, comments, from people that I should run for this or that," he said. "Just last week I spoke at a Republican women's luncheon and they all asked me what I'd run for again, encouraged me to do so."
