From Deseret News archives:

Mayoral donors hedging their bets

Published: Sunday, June 24, 2007 12:17 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Among well-known donors who gave to two candidates are broadcaster David Simmons (Buhler and Holbrook); Rep. Fred Hunsaker, R-Logan (Becker and Buhler); Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake (Becker and Saxton); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 57 (Becker and Wilson); United Transportation Union (Becker and Wilson); Salt Lake County Council member Jim Bradley (Becker and Wilson); Johansen-Thackery developers (Christensen, Hughes); and the Utah Restaurant Association (Becker and Buhler).

The funding race

So how do the multiple-givers seem to handicap the mayoral "horse race," based on their giving?

Of the more than $109,000 that they have donated, Christensen has received 36 percent; Becker and Buhler each have received 22 percent; Wilson, 12 percent; Holbrook (withdrawn), 4 percent; Hughes, 2 percent; and Saxton (withdrawn), 1 percent.

Not receiving any money from the multiple givers were candidates Robert Comstock, Arnold Jones and John Renteria.

Of note, campaign Web sites often list key people who have endorsed a candidate. Such endorsement generally implies that those people have endorsed only that candidate, and not others. But many multiple givers appear on such lists.

Multiple-givers Barbara Berry and Lorille Miller even appear on Web endorsement lists for both Becker and Wilson.

Wilson's Web site lists a total of six multiple-givers: Berry, Miller, John and Joan Firmage (who also gave to Christensen); M. Walker Wallace (who also gave to Becker); and Susan Marquardt (who also gave to Saxton).

Story continues below
Becker's Web site lists five multiple-givers as having endorsed him: Berry, Miller, McGee (who also gave to Saxton), Gale Dick (who also gave to Wilson) and Polly Hart (who also gave to Holbrook and Wilson).

Christensen's Web site lists three multiple-givers as endorsers: Don and Sue Lewon (who also gave to Becker) and John Milliken (who also gave to Becker).

No one really likes asking for money — that's why most candidates have a special fund-raising committee that asks for cash on behalf of a candidate. But fund raising is a daily and critical part of campaigning.

Anderson, who is considered a good fund-raiser, said he's glad he won't be asking for any political campaign donations again.

"In my post-mayoral life I will be fund raising" for whatever non-profit entity he joins or starts, the mayor said. "But it will not be as distasteful as in the context of a political campaign."


E-mail: lee@desnews.com; bbjr@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Deseret Morning News Graphic

previousnext

Latest comments

Letters: Professors and Beck

So, I'm just absolutely certain you'd feel just cluck-happy to have a Mr....

Own up to it, Obama. Your party controls both houses in Congress. You don't...

My Mom and I would just like to thank everyone that was involved! We know how...

TCU versus BSU unpopular

I agree that would be awesome. Imagine Tcu and boise state just taking knees...

Yeah, I'll bet he's really sorry that his attendance went from 700 to 7000...

Does anyone care what the big "O" says about the GOP?

Editorial: Another BCS mess

Do you work for the BCS or are you just naive? To suggest that they should...

hey, if you are going to make millions playing a silly game you have to be...

BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall

I don't what has happened to you dude, but you just don't have it anymore....

If I were rich I wouldn't be so broke. Another great statement from the...

Advertisements