Is Corroon eyeing race for governor?

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has raised $40,000 in a quietly created political-action committee toward what a spokesman says are his "political activities."

Corroon is often mentioned as the best Democratic candidate to run for governor next year. And several past gubernatorial candidates — Republicans and Democrats — have started their shadow campaigns by creating a PAC and raising money well before announcing their candidacy. The popular mayor, who easily won a second term in 2008, has yet to indicate any political plans for 2010.

While landing $40,000 in just two months would be a fine start, he's already behind newly installed GOP Gov. Gary Herbert in fundraising.

Herbert re-created his Friends of Gary PAC in June and has banked $150,000, new PAC reports released Monday show.

As the GOP incumbent, Herbert is a likely frontrunner in 2010, as he seeks to win on his own the final two years of former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s term.

State GOP Chairman Dave Hansen said he was not surprised by Corroon's new PAC, and the Salt Lake County mayor or any other Democrat who throws his or her hat in the gubernatorial ring is going to have their work cut out for them.

"The simple fact is, Gary Herbert is off to a great start in his first days in office, and I think — no matter how much money Democrats raise — it is going to be very difficult to win," Hansen said.

While Corroon has remained mum on his political future, Democrats around the state have made no bones about their support of him as the top challenger for the state's executive office.

State Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland said Tuesday that in spite of the lack of an announcement by Corroon of his political intentions, a groundswell of support was already behind him.

"Mayor Corroon is being encouraged by a number of high-profile people in this state, and thousands of grass-roots supporters, to seek the governor's position," Holland said.

Utah has not elected a Democratic governor since Scott M. Matheson won a second term in 1980.

e-mail: araymond@desnews.com