Eye-popping article in Today's Salt Lake Tribune, reporting that both "major party" Utah Gubernatorial candidates have been spending this election season like the proverbial "drunken sailors." Here's the full story from this morning's Robert Gehrke/Lee Davidson heads-up piece
• Spending in Utah guv race second-most in historyFrom this morning's SLTrib piece:
With a week until the election, Gary Herbert and Peter Corroon have spent more than $4.4 million battling for the Utah Governor’s Office.That kind of money has to come from somewhere, right? Being the curious type, we Googled, to find out how the various campaign finance disclosure laws might compel 2010 election candidates to reveal their campaign donors. And Lo and Behold... here's what we found, for those candidates who are required to file their financial disclosures per federal, state and Weber County laws and ordinances:
The total spent by the two candidates is the second highest in Utah history, with the exception of the 2004 gubernatorial race in which Jon Huntsman Jr. and Scott Matheson Jr. spent a combined $6.5 million, although Huntsman also had costly Republican convention and primary contests that year.
Herbert has spent $2.5 million on his race, outpacing Corroon, who spent $1.9 million. The totals include spending from their campaign and political action committee accounts.
• 2010 Campaign Finance Disclosures - Major Weber County CandidatesSpecial thanks to Doug Larsen, Elections Director of the County Clerk/Auditor's Office, and to the hard-working crew from the Weber County Government IT Department, who made the pertinentWeber County disclosure statements fully available to our WCF readers on less than a couple hours' notice.
Financial disclosure statements are crucially important, people. They let prospective voters know which interests and entities are vying for the candidates' attention... if you know what we mean... and we think you do.
