Provo mayoral race likely to be costliest ever for city

PROVO — Buckle your seat belts.

The election battle between Lewis Billings and Dave Bailey has begun and the rematch between the two men is expected to be the costliest mayoral race in city history, smashing the record Billings helped set eight years ago.

Billings filed for re-election Thursday and kicked off his campaign with a luncheon rally where the hot dogs, popcorn and bottled water seemed in conflict with the reality of how expensive the race with former Provo firefighter Dave Bailey could be.

Billings and Karl Thalman combined to spend $70,000 in 1997, when Billings won his first political race. This year's race could double that and more.

"(Bailey) has broadly pronounced he will spend $100,000," Billings said. "I think we will spend more than we did last time, depending on contributions."

Billings spent $41,702 to defeat Bailey by fewer than 400 votes in 2001, according to a campaign financial report filed with the Provo city recorder. Bailey spent about $26,000.

Dave Bailey won't spend $100,000, but Mary Bailey said her husband's campaign has created a budget of about $70,000.

"We have business advisers who tell me to raise that much," she said. "It won't take me that much to win. The mayor is misinformed. I have no intention of spending $100,000."

But if Bailey approaches $70,000, Billings is likely to match him dollar-for-dollar in a race that may make some local political gadflies nervous about the escalation in spending on city races.

In 1989, Joe Jenkins spent $27,000 to win re-election as Provo's mayor. Four years later, George Stewart replaced Jenkins in part because he outspent Shari Holweg, a record $41,804 to $15,907.

Billings spent less than Stewart — $36,107 — to beat Thalman in 1997.

But Thalman spent $34,261. The combined total of $70,368 may be a record in jeopardy.

Billings put $10,000 of his own money into his first campaign and had no trouble nearly breaking the single-candidate fund-raising record in the last election.

Both candidates wear the scars of the last campaign on their sleeves and could feel forced into a spending contest this year as they try to control their images.

Billings is painting Bailey as a union candidate because more than 50 percent of the retired fire captain's campaign contributions last time around came from union sources.

"He's a union man," Billings said. "He has been and he will be. Unions have a great capacity to bring money into this (race)."

Bailey wasn't available Thursday, but Mary Bailey said her husband is proud of those contributions and connections.

"Union affiliation, absolutely," she said. "We're proud of what firefighters do for our nation and for victims. We're very proud to have them contribute to our campaign."