This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The 4th Congressional District race just turned into a slugfest as Doug Owens released his first attack ad Wednesday, only to be countered by a new spot by Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah.

This was the type of bruising TV battle political insiders expected. It just took a little longer to materialize. It comes after the latest Salt Lake Tribune-Hinckley Institute poll from mid-September shows Owens down by 18 percentage points.

"He's got to do something to change the dynamic," said Matthew Burbank, a political science professor at the University of Utah. "He is hoping to take [her] incumbency and use it against her."

The Owens ad criticizes Love for her spending on mass mailers sent through her House account. The spot asserts she spent $302,092 of taxpayer money on the mailers, though that includes some used on telephone town halls. The correct amount is $274,787. That is far more than the three other House members from Utah combined, which is $91,469.

Such mailers are legal and used frequently, especially by newer members of Congress. But Taylor Morgan, Owens' campaign spokesman said: "This is a clear example of how she's put the perks of office and promoting herself above serving Utah."

The ad also brings up Love's taxpayer-funded flight to Washington, D.C., so she could attend the glitzy White House Correspondents' Dinner. Love later paid back the money.

Love's campaign strategist, Dave Hansen, calls the spot "political B.S."

"He is attacking a member of Congress for doing what members of Congress are supposed to do, which is communicate with her constituents," he said. "She was brand-new and she wanted to get the message out."

Such mailers must cease 90 days before the election, which this year fell on Aug. 10. That day, Love sent out a mailer with her picture next to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., touting her work on a financial-services bill, a veterans issue and a plan to make pieces of legislation less complex.

The Love campaign decided to release its second attack ad Wednesday. The first focused on Owens' involvement in the lawsuit that delayed construction of the Legacy Parkway. Owens was among the team of lawyers involved in the suit that eventually was settled, allowing the road to be built with certain concessions to make it smaller and with a lower speed limit.

Her second critical ad is called "Henry."

"In Utah, Doug claims he is one of us, but when Owens gives donations to Barack Obama, he signs the checks 'Henry,' " the ad says, going on to note that Owens also gave a donation to Hillary Clinton under his legal name Henry D. Owens.

Owens, who has gone by his middle name since he was a child, gave $500 to Clinton in 2007 and two $250 donations to Obama in 2008, after Obama beat Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Owens has also given donations using his legal name to the state Democratic Party, but his two most recent contributions, one to former Rep. Jim Matheson and one to his own 2014 campaign are identified on federal records as coming from Doug Owens.

The Love ads end with the slogan: "Henry 'Doug' Owens, definitely not on our side."

Morgan couldn't stifle his laughter after he saw the ad, noting that Owens' checking account and mortgage also include his legal name.

"Mia Love's ridiculous new negative ad attacking Doug for his name is another page straight out of the D.C. playbook," he said. "This is exactly what's wrong with Washington, and why Utahns are so fed up with politicians like Mia Love."

But the ad may have some effect since it ties Owens to Obama and Clinton, who are not viewed favorably by many Utah voters.

The 4th District includes much of western Salt Lake County and a portion of western Utah County and central Utah. Mail-in ballots in Salt Lake County will be sent out in roughly two weeks.

mcanham@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mattcanham