Nathan Rathbun, who also managed U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon's 2006 re-election, said he will be offering advice and aiding Turley with his mailings.

"I helped Mayor Billings because I believed, and still do, that he was the better candidate," Rathbun said.

Turley is the best candidate for the council and Provo, Rathbun said.

Meanwhile, Billings' former campaign manager, Utah County Republican Party Chairwoman Marian MonaÂhan, is a volunteer for Turley's rival, retired Fire Chief Coy D. Porter, whom Billings has endorsed in the race.

Billings said he didn't view Rathbun's decision to work for one of his political opponents as a betrayal.

"I didn't buy Mr. Rathbun for life," Billings said.

Turley said he and Rathbun share similar political philosophies and, after running into each other a few times during the campaign, he decided to bring him on his staff - at a cost, Rathbun said, of about $1,000 to $1,500 a month.

Turley said Rathbun has the experience he needs.

"The last guy who ran a citywide campaign in Provo was the mayor, and Nathan worked on his campaign," Turley said.

Rathbun said his role in Billings' 2005 re-election drive was helping mobilize voters and assisting with crafting campaign messages. However, he said that campaign's tone was so personal, it left a bad taste in his mouth.

The campaign against retired Fire Capt. Dave Bailey included a letter from Porter and two other chiefs who questioned Bailey's ability to serve as mayor as well as his ambition as a firefighter, a letter Rathbun said the campaign staff had to tone down from the original draft.

For Turley, who has the backing of Provo's firefighters union, Rathbun will help with mailings and offer some advice, not that the candidate needs much political counsel.

"Steve has good political savvy, and he's good at messages," Rathbun said.

Turley, Rathbun observed, also is willing to question Billings and not be intimidated by the mayor.

Billings and Turley have clashed over the iProvo fiber-optic system.

The mayor said he is not upset that his former aide is working for an opponent. He said Rathbun is free to support whomever he wants for the council, just as Billings is free to endorse Porter.

For her part, Monahan said her duties with Porter's campaign consist of handing out fliers and occasionally offering advice. However, she noted that she is an unpaid volunteer, while Rathbun is a paid consultant.

"When people are paid," Monahan said, "they will work for whoever pays them."

dmeyers@sltrib.com