Herbert to disclose donors on Web site

Want to know who's giving money to Gov. Gary Herbert?

There's no longer a need to wait until the next reporting deadline for political contributions now that Herbert has decided to make the list public right away.

Starting Tuesday, what will be the governor's campaign Web site, www.garyherbert.com, includes the name, amount and date of donations made to his Friends of Gary PAC as well as information on his upcoming fundraiser.

"He thinks it's important for the public to know who's contributing to his efforts," the governor's spokeswoman, Angie Welling, said. She said Herbert would like to see other politicians follow his lead.

"The governor's intent is not to make anyone else feel this is something they have to do. But he has not been shy in saying this is something they should do," Welling said.

Herbert opposes setting limits on campaign contributions to Utah candidates, instead favoring disclosing the money within 48 hours of receipt. State law currently requires such disclosures within 30 days.

His position has come under criticism because the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy, created by former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., is considering recommending capping contributions.

Herbert has not officially entered the 2010 race for the remainder of Huntsman's term. But he is raising money through his PAC. Although the next deadline for reporting PAC contributions is Jan. 10, the governor said recently he would consider voluntarily disclosing his donors sooner.

The list posted to Herbert's Web site is through Oct. 15 and includes only deposited contributions, Welling said. She said the list should be up to date by the time of the Governor's Gala on Oct. 30, with donors from the event online within 48 to 72 hours.

The gala is seen as Herbert's biggest campaign fundraiser for next year's special election. The governor is collecting as much as $50,000 from attendees and has said he expects to end up with well over $500,000.

The biggest donor listed on the Web site is Wadsworth Brothers Construction Co., which is one of four $50,000 "presenters" of the gala. The money has not yet been collected from the others, Deseret Power and the Utah Rural Electric PAC, Merit Medical, and the Utah Association of Realtors, Welling said.

Some of the $25,000 "supporting sponsors" of the gala, including the Workers Compensation Fund, are not yet listed on the Web site as giving that much money. And Clyde Companies gave $30,000, according to the Web site, but does not appear as a gala sponsor.

Just since the beginning of October, Herbert has taken in more than $225,000, according to the Web site. As of Aug. 31, the most recent disclosure deadline, his PAC had collected more than $123,000.

Herbert does not yet have any declared challengers in next year's race, although Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, is considering running. Herbert, who served under Huntsman as lieutenant governor, had always planned to run in 2012. Huntsman's resignation to become U.S. ambassador to China speeded up his plans.

e-mail: lisa@desnews.com