Hatch says campaign aides not employees

One test the IRS uses to determine whether a worker is an employee is whether work is done for only one entity or for many clients. Hansen said most of Hatch's paid campaign aides work full time for him but may do some work on the side for others.

Ashdown and a spokesman for Christensen said they considered campaign aides to be contractors in early campaign stages when their paid work was sporadic and part time.

But they said as their campaigns hit a higher gear and people came on board full time within the past quarter (for which disclosure forms have not yet been filed), they considered most as employees and began to pay payroll taxes.

"Having run my own business for years, I am very familiar with the rules," Ashdown said. "There was not much of a question (about deeming them as employees) when we put them on salary."

Hayden Hill, campaign manager for Christensen, says the candidate has at least five workers considered employees, and two current personnel are still considered contractors for sporadic work.

The well-funded Hatch has been able to afford more paid help than others. He spent nearly $300,000 on 15 individuals working for his campaign from January 2005 through June 2006.

Cannon spent the next most: about $143,000 in the same period. Matheson spent about $67,000; LaVar Christensen, $18,000; Olsen, $6,000; Ashdown, $4,000; Bishop and Burridge, nothing.

The amounts raised by other candidates for this year's campaigns (as of the last reporting period in June) are: Matheson, $1.2 million; Cannon, $953,193; Christensen, $264,986; Bishop, $195,171; Ashdown, $92,203; Olsen, $25,359; Burridge, $17,682.

Hatch has another interesting agreement with Mac Christensen, best known as founder of the Mr. Mac clothing stores and as president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and Stan Parrish, a former top aide to Hatch and a one-time congressional candidate.

Hansen said they essentially act as co-chairmen of Hatch's campaign. But they formed a company called C&C Consulting, originally founded by Mac Christensen and the late Chuck Canfield to help in the 2000 campaign. Hatch's campaign paid C&C $101,000 between January 2005 and June 2006.

"They provide advice and assistance on political matters," Hansen said. He adds that Mac Christensen has been "very involved in fund-raising."

Hansen adds that Christensen and Parrish "have been close to Sen. Hatch for many, many years," and they jointly plan political strategy together.

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