Some candidates file error-filled disclosures

Several candidates for Salt Lake County elections — including both Republicans and Democrats — filed financial disclosure reports riddled with errors.

Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen sent out 10 letters to candidates for county elections asking them to fix the problems.

The issue first came to light after county GOP leader James Evans complained about the financial disclosure report for the Democratic candidate for district attorney. Evans said Democratic County Clerk Sherrie Swensen had been quick to send back reports for Republicans to correct, yet has ignored similar problems in reports filed by Sim Gill, a Democrat running for district attorney.

Swensen said she did nothing wrong.

After reviewing Gill's financial disclosure report, the clerk's office scoured all other financial disclosures to find similar problems.

If a donor contributes $200 or more to a campaign, candidates must disclose the donor's occupation and employer. Gill had multiple donors over the $200 mark, yet only listed their occupation and omitted where they worked. Reports filed in April, June and September were all filed with the errors, yet the clerk's office never notified Gill of the problem.

Now, as a result of Evans' complaint, the clerk's office sent letters to Gill and nine additional candidates who did not list both occupation and employer of donors who contributed more than $200. Five Republicans and five Democrats must now amend their financial disclosure reports.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com