Tuition tax credit advocates are spending much more money than the state's largest teachers union is on candidates they hope to catapult into office, state political action committee reports show.

The Parents for Choice in Education PAC had spent $170,260 between January and Sept. 15. That's more than 60 percent above the $106,500 the UEA PAC spent.

Parents for Choice in Education also received more than $187,500 in donations — more than seven times the UEA's fund-raising.

Still, campaigns are just getting warmed up. The UEA had more than $422,000 in its war chest; Parents for Choice in Education had just $17,250, as of the Sept. 15 reporting deadline.

But the latter PAC isn't worried.

"We can never match the UEA in dollars, but we feel our message is more compelling and draws more support among the general populace," said Parents for Choice executive director Elisa Clements Peterson.

But the UEA notes most of Parents for Choice in Education's money comes from out-of-state donors.

"We receive small donations from a very large number of individuals, members, where the bulk of theirs comes from two or three heavy contributors," said Vik Arnold, UEA government relations director. "So based on the report, it doesn't appear to me as though they have broad-based support here locally."

Election-related financial reports can be viewed online at https://ucrs.state.ut.us/.

The UEA and Parents for Choice in Education often are at odds — most recently last week, when Parents for Choice in Education filed a complaint with the Lieutenant Governor's Office.

The PAC accused the UEA and a Utah County teacher of using publicly funded school e-mail accounts to recruit volunteers for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scott Matheson's campaign. State elections director Amy Naccarato will investigate but noted the matter appeared to be more of a school policy issue than state law violation.

The complaint underscores a critical election for both groups, and one where tuition tax credits could hang in the balance.

Parents for Choice in Education and other backers say the credits would help lower-income families choose the education that meets their children's needs.

The UEA and other public education groups oppose the credits as taking money away from schools that already get the fewest per-student dollars in the country.

Tuition tax credits have gained support in the Senate, but repeatedly stalled in the more moderate House. Gov. Olene Walker and former Gov. Mike Leavitt also have indicated they would not sign a tuition tax credits bill.