War chests in Provo, Orem races vary widely

PROVO — Some of the campaign finance war chests of city council candidates in Provo and Orem are brimming with cash, while others are completely empty, six days before the critical primary election.

Brigham Young University law professor Carl Hernandez leads the pack, raising $10,201 in his attempt to be one of the 12 Orem candidates to finish in the top six on Tuesday and advance to the general election in November.

Hernandez had spent about 10 percent of that money, or $1,322, as of Friday, according to campaign finance disclosures released by Orem. He had been outspent by seven candidates who had raised far less money, led by incumbent Margaret Black, who had raised $6,690 and had spent $5,031.

Black got $2,000 from her daughter and son-in-law, Paul and Kerri Madsen, and another $1,000 from her mother-in-law, Loraine Black.

"I've basically got money from family and friends," Black said.

Hernandez also got a major chunk of his cash from family, with $4,501 from his brother Mark Hernandez and Sequoia Builders/Sequoia Press. Carl Hernandez said he'll spend a lot of money on newspaper advertising during the final week, in part to combat what he said are negative responses about his ethnicity.

"A lot of candidates are using the number of years they have lived in the city of Orem as a basis for getting support," Hernandez said. "I felt I had to put out enough information to help residents realize I have unique experience in law and municipal government and to show my education level and life experience."

In Provo, incumbent District 3 candidate Midge Johnson had raised nearly as much money as of Tuesday as all of the other eight candidates in Provo's three primary races.

Johnson had raised $7,495, and said she had promises for several thousand dollars more. One of her opponents, Melanie McCoard, had raised $1,000 and had been outspent six to one.

"I've got promises of another $3,000," McCoard said. "Anybody can give money who wants to, in my opinion. I believe that. I won't ask people for money, though, especially because Midge and I have lived in the same (LDS) stake for 30 years. I think asking our neighbors for money puts people in an untenable position."

The other candidate in the District 3 race, Brian Smith, had not raised or spent any money.

One of the three will be eliminated on Tuesday, with two advancing to the general election.