Huntsman's PAC bag light

Utahns have not turned an elected governor out of office since the 1950s. Former Gov. Olene Walker was denied her Republican Party's nomination in 2004 at the GOP state convention. But she stepped up to the governorship from being lieutenant governor in 2003, when former Gov. Mike Leavitt resigned to accept a position in President Bush's cabinet.

With Huntsman's job-approval ratings high, and his promise that he will only serve two terms, he has to be the odds-on favorite to win re-election in the 2008 campaign year. It's not expected that Huntsman will have a significant GOP challenger. And no Democrat has yet announced a campaign against Huntsman, either.

Jason Chaffetz, a former chief of staff to Huntsman who ran his successful 2004 gubernatorial campaign, says Huntsman can raise several million dollars in just a few months, if need be.

"The governor is a very good fund raiser, when you can get him to do it," said Chaffetz, a Republican who is eyeing a 3rd Congressional District run next year against Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah.

"The governor has many friends, both inside and outside of Utah," Chaffetz said.

Huntsman's new PAC filing shows $10,000 individual contributions each from two New Yorkers, Jeanne Sorenson-Leff and Herbert Siegel. The couple, who live on Fifth Avenue, hosted a "small, personal event" for Huntsman when he was in New York in May, Roskelley said.

Utah has no campaign contribution limits for state offices. "And that allows the governor to raise a lot of money — like $10,000 checks — from fewer people, if he wants to," said Chaffetz.

Huntsman ran on an office-holding pledge to limit gubernatorial terms and campaign contributions. Although various legislators have introduced both term and contribution limits for the governor, the bills have always failed.

Some of Huntsman's $10,000 contributors have longtime connections both to the governor and GOP politics in Utah.

There's former Envirocare owner Khosrow Semnani and Reagan Outdoor Advertising — and both entities have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Utah politicians over the years.

A. Scott Anderson, president of Zions Bank, gave the governor's PAC $10,000 personally. Anderson has been active in the bank/credit union battle that occurred recently in the Legislature. Huntsman also had a $350,000 line of credit at Zions during his 2004 campaign. He still owes $300,000 on that line of credit, and he currently keeps his PAC funds in the bank.

Huntsman also got a $10,000 contribution from A Plus Benefits, a Lindon, Utah County, firm that provides health care and other benefits to businesses. A Plus Benefit got state Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, to cut a radio commer- cial for it some time ago.

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