From Deseret News archives:
Legislative leaders fare well in raising funds for election
Overall, members of House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle raised almost $170,000 since the start of 2003, according to financial disclosure reports filed last week. Among the highest fund-raising totals were majority and minority leaders in both houses.
The largest total easily belonged to House Majority Leader Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, who reported contributions totaling $57,651, including more than $10,000 that was donated after questions arose in early May about possible "double-dipping" in mileage reimbursements from both the state and his Salt Lake County employment. His fund-raising success diminishes the normally respectable $9,994 raised by his opponent, Democrat Jay Seegmiller.
Curtis has tapped numerous political action committees, special interest groups and corporations for his donations, especially the big ticket contributions. Among the largest:
• $8,000 from banks, bank principals and their political action groups.
• $4,000 from realty organizations.
• $3,000 from Commonweatlh Capital.
• $5,000 from Bryson Garbett of Garbett Homes.
A lawyer in private practice since leaving Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman's office during the vehicle use scandal this summer, Curtis also received numerous donations from law firms. Other donors of note include Altria, which owns Phillip Morris tobacco, health management organizations, and Envirocare of Utah.
While not as flush with cash, other legislative leaders were quite successful in raising campaign money. Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, raised $32,350, including $3,000 each from the Utah Association of Realtors and Consumer Lending Alliance Inc., and $2,000 from Zions Bancorporation. He also received donations from health management organizations and lobbying firms.
Other leaders raising big cash were Senate Majority Whip John Valentine, R-Orem, who brought in $30,750 in a race where his opponent, Democrat Carilee Harper, only raised $1,939. Senate Majority Leader Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, was close behind, with $28,341. Notably absent from his donor list are banks and credit union groups, probably related to his positions on legislation that pits the institutions against each other.
Senate Assistant Minority Whip Peter Knudsen, R-Brigham City, does not have a race this year, nor does Senate Minority Whip Ron Allen, D-Stansbury Park, nor Senate Assistant Minority Whip Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake.
In the House, Minority Leader Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley, has raised $15,500 against an opponent, Republican Philip Conder, who has raised only $1,540. Other members of majority and minority leadership do not have contested races this year.
Although not running for another legislative term, Speaker of the House Marty Stephens, R-Farr West, reported almost $250,000.
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com
