But after a newspaper reporter started asking about any job offers after the GOP convention, in which Walker did much better than Ellis, Ellis filed an official complaint with the state elections office of Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert. Herbert refused to act until after the June 24 primary, saying he didn't want to unfairly color the intra-party race.

After the primary, Herbert referred the matter to Shurtleff, who — because he had backed Walker — in turn asked a Democratic and a Republican county attorney to investigate any criminal charges.

Totally separate of that investigation, the five House members formally asked for a House Ethics Committee investigation of Walker's actions.

Hard feelings have sprung up within the Legislature over the ethics investigation.

Reps. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, and Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, who signed the ethics complaint, were labeled as "dissidents" by Curtis. And Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden, who also signed the complaint, said he fully expects some kind of political retaliation by GOP leaders on those who challenge their authority and their backing of Walker.

---

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com