The obscure Republican has raised just $700 - all out of his own pocket - to unseat politically popular Mayor Peter Corroon.
The Democratic mayor's campaign chest has climbed to nearly $148,000, according to financial disclosure statements filed Monday.
That money could mean an even more lopsided head start for Corroon, who bested last-minute Republican candidate Ellis Ivory at the ballot box in 2004 with a $356,000 campaign. This year, the mayor said his re-election run could reach a half-million dollars.
"I'm taking my opponent seriously and plan on running a serious campaign," Corroon said. "I'm taking nothing for granted."
Renckert, a field supervisor for Adult Probation and Parole and an adjunct professor at Salt Lake Community College, said his meager financial beginnings have little to do with his viability as a candidate, only to his newness to politics.
"I don't have the resources that Mr. Corroon has," he said.
But Renckert - describing himself as a "hardworking guy" - said his fundraising machine soon will rumble into motion. So far, he's the only contributor to his campaign.
As for Corroon, the mayor's largest donation came from J. Steven Price of Price Realty Group, who kicked in $5,000. He also received hefty contributions from Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson, 1-800-Contacts Inc., Gardner Property Holdings and AEB Enterprises.
Even Salt Lake City's Democratic mayor, Ralph Becker, pitched $500 toward his re-election.
In County Council races, at-large Democrat Randy Horiuchi has pocketed the most donations, amassing nearly $63,000 by the end of March. More than half the incumbent's contributions ($35,900) came from home builders and real estate management firms, including North Star Builders, Wasatch Pacific and Cottonwood Development.
Horiuchi's Republican opponent, Steven DeBry, has raised $2,400.
GOP Councilman Michael Jensen captured the next biggest cache with $18,850. The west-side incumbent - a deputy chief for the Unified Fire Authority - reported hefty contributions from the firefighters association and Gold Cross. Jensen also received large sums from the Salt Lake Board of Realtors, South Hills Development and Solitude Ski Resort.
His Democratic challenger, Paul Pugmire, has raised $4,000, mostly from his own bank account.
The one twist in the council races came in the east-side District 4, where Democratic newcomer Jani Iwamoto outpaced her incumbent by raising $10,000 during the opening weeks of her candidacy. Horiuchi contributed $1,000 to that total.
Her opponent, GOP Councilman Mark Crockett, reported no earnings during that period. Financial records show $563 in his campaign account.
As for District 6 - the southeastern council seat that Republican Councilman Marv Hendrickson plans to vacate this year - the race remains financially tame with no candidate reaching $1,000.
jstettler@sltrib.com
