Matheson rival lends own coffer $250,000

WASHINGTON — Republican congressional candidate Bill Dew of Dewbury Homes has lent his campaign $250,000 in his quest to unseat incumbent Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.

Dew, who has previously said he was willing to spend his own money on the race, proved Tuesday that he really will fund his campaign — so far, almost entirely. Based on Federal Election Commission reports filed Tuesday, he raised only $40 for his campaign but still is awash in money when compared to his GOP rivals.

A millionaire former homebuilder who has been a GOP state delegate and precinct chairman, Dew has $203,535 cash on hand, according to his report. He loaned his campaign $250,000 and spent $46,504 on "operating expenditures," according to his statement.

He said that he has not decided on a cap for his personal campaign spending but that he started with $250,000 so that "people would know we are serious about beating Jim Matheson."

Matheson's other Republican challenger, former congressman and perennial candidate Merrill Cook, raised $21,069 since the beginning of 2008 and has $10,131.08 cash on hand, according to the filings.

None of the challengers, however, are close — yet — to touching Matheson's war chest. The four-term Democrat raised $218,476 for the first quarter and has more than $1 million cash on hand.

The other 2nd District candidates, Libertarian Matthew Arndt, Constitution Party Dennis Ray Emery, and Republicans Donald Ferguson, Kenneth Gray, Chris Jacobs and Brian Jenkins did not meet that $5,000 minimum of contribution that the FEC requires to file a report, although Gray noted he met the minimum after the March 31 deadline, so he will have to file a July 15 report.

The latest FEC reports also show Utah's congressional candidates raising and spending money, particularly in the 3rd Congressional District.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, raised $180,760 this quarter, bringing his total contributions to $528,732. Cannon spent $105,358 this quarter and has $127,580 cash on hand.

Cannon has about $199,000 in campaign debt obligations at the end of the fourth quarter. Of the money he raised the past four months, about $152,000 has come from political action committees.

Cannon challenger and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s former chief of staff Jason Chaffetz raised $25,234 this quarter, bringing his total contributions to $90,609 for this election. He spent $25,416 during the first quarter and has $42,859 cash on hand.