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An Ogden City Council member who is a Weber County Commission candidate is questioning the legality of a Tuesday fund raiser on behalf of her election opponent.
Amy Wicks claims irregularities because businessman Gary Nielsen is hosting a fundraiser for Republican Commission candidate Kerry Gibson in a building and using facilities that are subsidized by taxpayers.
Nielsen has a 20-year-lease on the city-owned Salomon Center, part of a redevelopment agency project that included the recreation-activity businesses inside the center. Nielsen and Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey are listed as members of the fundraiser's host committee.
Wicks charges the political event violates both city and state law that bars a municipal officer or employee from using municipal equipment while engaged in political activity.
In an e-mail to Wicks, the mayor pointed out that the city attorney addressed this issue with her several times.
"They can use the facility in whatever way they deem appropriate as long as they don't do anything to violate their lease," Godfrey said. "There are no lease provisions which restrict 'political activity.' "
Godfrey pointed out that several Democratic functions have been held in city- and county-owned facilities, including the Weber County Democrats' "Sawbuck Dinner" at the taxpayer-subsidized Ogden Eccles Conference Center.
Reached by phone Monday, Gibson shot back that Wicks' allegations "are patently false" and "an unfortunate political ploy."
"This is what happens when someone doesn't have a grasp of the real issues facing the county," Gibson said, "so they resort to political gamesmanship."
Nielsen also balked at Wicks' allegation.
"What I've done is the same thing we do for any other family, church or business group," Nielsen said, noting that Gibson will get a group discount and be charged based on how many show up and use the facilities.
Folks who attend his event, however, will get their admission covered to iFly (a wind tunnel for practicing skydiving) iRock (a climbing wall) and Flowrider (a wakeboarding, surfing and boogie boarding wave pool), Gibson said. Those fees run as high as $30 a pop.
"Then, obviously, we hope they'll make a contribution," Gibson said.
Republican fundraiser for Weber County Commission candidate Kerry Gibson
• Tuesday, 6 to 9 p.m. at Ogden's Salomon Center. Supporters get to use iFly, iRock and Flowrider for free.