Dueling $$ in Provo council race

PROVO — Two candidates for the same seat on the Provo City Council have landed $5,000 donations, according to financial disclosures filed this week.

The donations to former Mayor George Stewart and Provo businessman Mark Sumsion are noteworthy for two reasons. First, no donor has given that much to a Provo candidate in any race since 1993, and a contribution of that size wouldn't be possible in Salt Lake City, where a city ordinance limits campaign contributions in City Council races to $1,500.

Stewart, 65, and Sumsion, 55, are both wealthy enough to fund their campaigns out of their own pockets. They say the large donations are innocuous gifts from friends — not attempts to buy their votes.

For Stewart, the $5,000 from Orem company BTS Investments Inc. is more than one-quarter of the $19,150 he has raised. And BTS owner Scott McQuarrie and his wife, Milissa, have given Stewart an additional $1,000.

"Can you buy my vote?" Stewart said. "The answer is no. I proved my integrity as mayor."

Sumsion has raised $15,052.50, which means one-third of his campaign funds are the $5,000 he got from a California company he listed on his disclosure as "NMSBPCLSDHB."

The 11-letter acronym is the name of a California company owned by Robert Granum, who Sumsion described as a member of his ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Granum lives in California but maintains a home in Sumsion's neighborhood. Attempts to reach Granum Friday were unsuccessful.

"It's not an anonymous donation," Sumsion said when told Stewart and others were curious about the acronym on the disclosure form. "I'm happy to disclose that because it's such a large amount and it doesn't say who it's from.

"(Granum) never put any strings on it," Sumsion added. "I was really surprised when I got that check. Really surprised. If I don't spend it all, I'll see if I'm allowed to refund it all, and if I can, I will."

McQuarrie, who is a Sumsion neighbor, gave Stewart the $6,000 before he knew Sumsion would run.

"I would have spread the money around if I hadn't committed to George," McQuarrie said. "I feel bad I helped one good guy against another. Now I've given the money to George, and we'll see what happens."

McQuarrie's brother Brent has given Sumsion $500.