State candidates spent $6.25 per voter in '08

Candidates for state government offices — from governor to the Legislature — spent a combined $6.1 million last year. That is $6.25 spent per actual voter.

That is according to Deseret News analysis of financial disclosure data posted on the lieutenant governor's Web site.

Because of bugs in new computer programming, that Web site crashed when candidates filed year-end disclosure information on Jan. 12 — and the site initially produced incorrect summaries of their donations and spending. That forced closure of the site for nearly two weeks, but it was finally operating on Monday without any warnings that data may be incorrect.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. reported spending the most of any state office candidate, $824,684. That is nine times the $87,151 spent by his Democratic opponent, Bob Springmeyer.

Among the top money sources for Huntsman was a $295,000 line-of-credit (or revolving loan) he had from Zions Bank; $239,628 from Huntsman's Governors Special Initiatives Office political action committee; $20,000 from Chris-Craft Industries President Herbert J. Siegel; and $15,000 each from Comcast and Sinclair Oil.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff spent the second most money among state office candidates: $730,315. That is seven times the $105,700 spent by his Democratic opponent, Jean Welch Hill.

Among the top donors to Shurtleff were: I-Works, $50,000; The Tax Club, $40,000; Internet provider Bloosky, $35,000; CW Management, $30,150; 1-800-CONTACTS, $25,000; and $20,000 each from such donors as Usana, Siegfried & Jensen, The Summit Group, and Pre-Paid Legal Services.

Spending the most among legislative candidates was freshman Sen. David P. Hinkins, R-Orangeville, who replaced retired Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price. He spent $169,122, but $90,000 of it came from his own pocket as loans to his campaign.

Next highest among legislative candidates was the $125,158 spent by embattled-but-re-elected Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan. He was under fire for what critics said were racially insensitive remarks. His Democratic opponent, John Rendell, spent less than half as much: $53,960.

Among big donors to Buttars were the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, $19,000; John Dudley of Sandy, $11,000; the Utah County Legislative PAC, $9,000; Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syrause, $5,000; Merit Medical, $2,500; and Zions Bank, $2,000.

Big spending did not always ensure re-election. Former House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, was defeated even though he outspent new Rep. Jay Seegmiller, D-Sandy, by more than a 2-1 margin. Curtis reported spent $115,966 compared to $49,140 by Seegmiller.