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Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, hasn't given much thought to what he's going to do with the $13,400 he has sitting in his campaign fund.
The retiring lawmaker likely will use some of it for travel expenses for the rest of his term, which ends Dec. 31. But some may end up tucked away in his pocket.
"I might support other candidates with it, but it would have to be somebody I really liked," he said. "I'll probably just keep it and pay taxes on it."
Under Utah statute, that's perfectly legal. Those running for or serving in public office can use campaign funds any way they see fit.
It's a practice retiring Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City, finds "very unfortunate."
"I plan to plow mine back for the same kind of activity for which people gave me money," she said, adding that the $7,600 she has left will go toward other candidates' races.
Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, is running for state treasurer, and he will roll over the $18,800 he has left in his state House campaign account into that race.
"I'm not going to get a boat this time," he joked.
Sandy Peck, executive director of the League of Women Voters, has testified in support of legislation restricting such funds.
"We just thought that people would be really surprised that there just were no limits on how that money could be spent," she said.
"When you give money to a candidate, it's for reasons to do with their offices and services they are going to provide you as a taxpayer," Peck said. "There should be some accountability and some restriction on how it gets used."
State Sen. Dan Eastman, R-Bountiful, has the most leftover money of any retiring lawmaker: $31,600. He plans to use most of it for campaigns and charity.
"Maybe not 100 percent will go for those, but the majority will. The rest, we'll just go ahead and see," he said. "But as I understand it, there are no restrictions on how we can use that money."
Rep. Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt, said he gave one-third of his $3,000 to a candidate he supports but wouldn't name.
"I don't want to offend the other guys," he said. "Can't a guy just walk away?"
Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff, D-Ogden, has the least amount left, with about $1,700. She'll use it for postage and other expenses during the remainder of her term.
"Many people keep some money in there in case they run again," she said.
That's proven beneficial for LaVar Christensen and Jay Seegmiller. Christensen left the House in 2006 to run for Congress, but he still has nearly $13,000 left in his legislative campaign fund, according to his financial disclosure. Seegmiller has about $8,700 left. Both are running again this year for legislative seats. Former House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander has about $62,000 at his disposal, according to his disclosure. Earlier, he said he does not plan to spend it but rather save it for his next run at office.
But others who have been retired for several years still have significant amounts left. Al Mansell, who chose not to run again for his Senate seat in 2006, still has $45,600 in his account, according to his disclosure. He could not be reached for comment.
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and his communications director, Karen Hale, both ran bills when they served in the Legislature to require candidates to put surplus funds into political campaigns, nonprofit organizations or the state's general fund.
Hale said it was "unbelievable to see the reactions" of legislators arguing against passing such a bill.
"They would say 'I really earned this money. I've given up personal time and sacrificed for this office,' " Hale said. "But public service is just that: service."
Becker's legislation, which he ran several years, never saw the light of day in a Legislature hostile to most so-called ethics reform efforts.
He said he can't speak to legislators' motivations, but did say many "justified" using the money to take trips with their spouses or benefit themselves in some way.
"It leaves open the potential for real abuse," he said. "When people give money for political campaigns . . . those monies are not intended to be for personal use."
Leaving happy
Retiring lawmakers and their campaign fund balances
* Sen. Dan Eastman, R-Bountiful: $31,657.33
* Sen. Darin Peterson, R-Nephi: $29,972.22
* Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy: $18,836.31
* Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price: $13,434.56
* Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George: $11,632.06
* Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City: $7,615.73
* Rep. Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt: $3,140.33
* *Former Rep. Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City: $2,869.35
* Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff, D-Ogden: $1,686.21
*Current Salt Lake City mayor
Source: Candidate financial disclosures