Democrats out-raise GOP in Utah County

OREM — The large slate of Democrats challenging the Republican chokehold on Utah County seats in the state Legislature this year is doing better on the fundraising trail.

Six of the 11 Democrats who will be on the November ballot have out-raised the Republican incumbents they are challenging, according to financial disclosures released by the Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office.

Not only do the Democrats have more money than the Republicans, they have more donors.

Three times more donors have given to Democrats than Republicans so far.

"Democratic candidates are appealing to average people who want change," Utah County Democratic Party chairman Richard Davis said. "They know our candidates will bring better schools, ethics reform and managed growth that preserves neighborhoods."

The Republicans have noticed. At Saturday's Utah County Republican Convention, the county GOP chairwoman, Marian Monnahan, urged party members to stick together.

"We do have some Democratic challengers who are fairly credible and well-known in the community," Monnahan said, "and we must maintain our Republican status."

U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, also called Utah Valley Republicans to action.

"We always know that whatever difficulty we have in other counties that Utah County will come through with (huge) margins for Republicans," Bennett said. "It's your responsibility to do it again."

The leading fundraiser among the Democrats is Paul Thompson, a former Brigham Young University administrator and former president of Weber State University, who has raised more than $14,000.

Thompson is challenging Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, who has $1,000 in donations.

Former Alpine School District Superintendent Steve Baugh has raised $13,600 in his race against Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem.

Baugh's largest donor is Cedar Hills resident Wayne Crabbe, who gave $2,500. Crabbe has said he is tired of one-party rule in Utah Valley.

Sandstrom has raised $7,250, with $5,000 coming from his company, Sandstrom & Associates Architecture.

Sandstrom also has $1,000 from the Challenger School in Sandy and $250 each from the legal firms of Siegfried and Jensen and Robert J. DeBry & Associates.

Four other Democrats have fundraising leads over Republican incumbents.