Gibby's name does not show up as a contributor in Buttars' campaign-disclosure forms. But three employees of Novorad, a medical-software company owned by Gibby, contributed $4,000 to Buttars during the first week of September 2007.
According to Randy Graham, a former Novorad employee who is involved in litigation with Gibby in 4th District Court, the offer of reimbursement for contributions to the Buttars campaign was discussed in Novorad management meetings several times.
"People were uncomfortable with the situation," said Graham. "Some contributed and some didn't."
Gibby says he has encouraged many associates, including employees, to contribute to Buttars' campaigns because he admires Buttars' independence in the Legislature, particularly on health care issues.
Gibby has been a longtime foe of Intermountain Health Care, complaining of monopolistic health care practices. He says Buttars has been one of the leaders in efforts to expand competition.
Gibby said he has given bonuses to his employees, "so I suppose you could trace the money back to me," but he said he never coerced an employee to contribute to Buttars.
Novorad employees Paul Shumway and Robert Ahlman made $1,000 contributions each to Buttars on Sept. 4, 2007. Employee Ronnie Dickerson made two $1,000 contributions, one on Sept. 1 and one on Sept. 4, according to Buttars' campaign disclosure forms.
Shumway said simply, "I don't want to discuss it," when asked if he was reimbursed through a bonus by Gibby. Ahlman and Dickerson did not return my calls.
The three employees do not live in Buttars' West Jordan district, and they don't show up on any other campaign report.
Buttars also received a campaign contribution last July from the Utah Coalition for Patient/Physician Rights. Gibby is listed in the State Division of Corporation records as the registered agent and director of that group.
Gibby has been in a dispute for years with Mapleton over his attempts to build a housing development on land he owns in the foothills above the Utah County community.
Several legislators, including Reps. Aaron Tilton and Mike Morley, and Buttars in the Senate, have put pressure on Mapleton to give in to Gibby's demands by threatening to sponsor legislation that would hamper cities' planning and zoning authorities.
Buttars, who at the time was the chairman of the Senate Judicial Confirmation Review Committee, wrote a scathing letter last year to a 4th District judge who ruled in Mapleton's favor on one aspect of the land dispute.
Some accused the Republican senator of abusing his authority and blurring separation-of-power lines.
Some lawmakers also complained to Senate President John Valentine that Gibby was allowed to use Buttars' Senate office during the legislative session to lobby other legislators on behalf of his health care issues.
prolly@sltrib.com
