Money no problem for GOP's Leavitt

It's nice to have a big family with a bunch of money and friends in high places.

Republican David O. Leavitt , who is running for the 3rd Congressional District, is in that situation. He has the ability to raise money, his new FEC report shows. But he also has the means to pump millions of dollars of his own money into his race.

Leavitt said his federal personal financial filings show his worth at between $31 million and $81 million.

The younger brother of former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt is trying to oust six-term GOP incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon . David Leavitt raised $110,000 over the past three months. Cannon raised $53,000 over the same time frame.

Cannon also is a millionaire. In congressional financial-disclosure forms filed this past May, he declared a net worth between $2.1 million and $7.5 million. In 2006, he loaned his campaign $138,000.

So far, it is a three-person race for the 3rd District GOP nomination, with Leavitt and Cannon joined by Jason Chaffetz, former chief of staff to GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. New filings show that Chaffetz raised $45,100 over the last three months.

But it is David Leavitt's fund-raising, and his personal wealth, that sticks out from the threesome's finances right now.

Leavitt, 44, declined to say how much of his own money he may put into his race. But he said if his fund-raising falls short from what his financial campaign plan calls for, "then the option to put some (money) in myself certainly exists." He has already loaned his campaign $10,500.

Leavitt raised $27,000 from his immediate family — most of whom work for The Leavitt Group of insurance agencies and related family businesses, which are the basic foundation of David Leavitt's wealth, as well. Each of the six Leavitt sons and their father, Dixie, own a similar share in the family businesses, which spring from a small independent insurance agency started years ago by Dixie Leavitt in Cedar City.

David Leavitt has raised another $8,566 from individuals with some connection to the insurance industry, according to his first filings with the Federal Election Commission. David Leavitt has never worked for the family businesses, running his own law practices instead.

He has also raised $8,100 from well-known Utahns who have long supported Mike Leavitt, who is now a member of President Bush's Cabinet as the head of the federal department of Health and Human Services.

David Leavitt, a former Juab County district attorney, also has landed $6,500 from attorneys. Add a group of central Utah businessmen, and you can see why he raised more money over the past three months than did incumbent Cannon.