This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Much is being made of a radio ad purchased independently by a 79-year-old woman from Sandy who wants to oust Rep. Jim Matheson from his 2nd Congressional District seat and insert Republican challenger Morgan Philpot.
But while the impression in the blogosphere and on Twitter is that Alice Baker is an average citizen who just decided she's had enough and went to the airwaves to convince voters Matheson is wrong for Utah, in reality she's a regular and sizable donor for conservative causes and candidates.
She's also the president of Challenger School with 21 campuses spread out over four Western states, including Utah.
Her name on federal contribution forms is Barbara Baker — though the ad makes a point of saying "paid for by B. Alice Baker."
Over the past two years, Baker has given to Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., as well as conservative causes, including the Minutemen PAC and Americans Against Illegal Immigration. All told, since the 2006 election cycle, she's spread $45,975 throughout the country.
She has also given $4,800 to Philpot.
Baker didn't comment and the receptionist at Challenger School headquarters refused to put through a phone call.
Running the spot on Salt Lake City radio stations, including KSL, cost $26,000, according to a KSL report.
Baker's ad links Matheson with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — a story line being pushed by the Philpot campaign. Philpot said he didn't know about the ad.
Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland, said the ad shows Philpot's links to the far right.
"It tells the voters that we're looking at a candidate she is supporting that is in tune with the extreme right of the country," he said. "They're interested in ripping [government] apart and not [in] making it function."