This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Of all the Salt Lake County races on the Nov. 4 ballot, none has generated more news coverage so far than the effort of Republican Jake Petersen, a Unified Police Department (UPD) lieutenant, to dislodge his boss, incumbent Democratic Sheriff Jim Winder.
The two are going nose-to-nose in fundraising as well, according to financial disclosures filed this week.
Less than $4,000 separates the campaign contribution totals of the two sheriff's candidates, who are locked in a rancorous dispute over the use of a privately owned BearCat armored vehicle, operated by UPD officers, at a Winder fundraiser last fall.
The county Republican Party filed a complaint with the federal Office of Special Counsel, claiming Winder violated the Hatch Act by involving the officers in a political event. Winder denies wrongdoing, saying the officers were under contract to operate the armored vehicle for its owner, Michael Drury, who lent it to the UPD.
Winder raised $71,500 to Petersen's $67,600. But because of a balance left from his campaign four years ago, the incumbent has outspent Petersen by $22,000, and still has $30,000 left in his campaign account. Petersen has just $6,000 remaining.
Winder's quarterly report included 151 donations of $50 or more, the largest being $3,000 donations each from 1-800-Contacts and the campaign of county Mayor Ben McAdams. He also pulled in $2,000 from Gary and Elizabeth DeSeelhorst of Solitude Mountain Resort.
Petersen identified 134 contributors on his quarterly report, which showed that almost half of his donations — $21,960 — came in as an in-kind contribution Sept. 8 from Aposhian Racing, Doug Aposhian, Jason Aposhian, Rick Aposhian and D.R. Automotive.
No county candidate has collected more money than District Attorney Sim Gill, the Democratic incumbent, who built his campaign account to $164,000 with $51,000 raised in the quarter. Those numbers dwarf the fundraising of his Republican opponent, Deputy District Attorney Steve Nelson, who has raised just $30,400 overall, including $11,000 in the most recent reporting period.
A big disparity also exists in the race for the at-large County Council seat being vacated by Democrat Randy Horiuchi. His hand-picked replacement, former Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, took in $47,000 last quarter from 150 contributors, 15 of whom donated $1,000 or more.
GOP candidate Micah Bruner, an attorney, raised just $8,300 from 24 contributors. That brought him to $15,800 for the overall campaign compared to just shy of $100,000 for Wilson.
By contrast, the candidates for the council's mid-valley District 3 seat are locked in a tight fundraising battle. The race pits Republican Aimee Winder Newton, who has held the seat for a year since replacing the ill David Wilde, against Democrat Dan Snarr, the former Murray mayor best known for his flamboyant mustache.
Snarr took in $30,400 in the last three months, just $3,000 more than Newton, and they're heading into the stretch with similar balances in their campaign accounts: $22,500 for Newton, $18,600 for Snarr.
Fundraising for the Council District 1 race is not close. Democratic incumbent Arlyn Bradshaw has raised $12,500 year-to-date, including $8.800 in the last quarter. His GOP challenger, Richard Barnes, collected just $70 in the last three months, $421 overall.
With the exceptions of Newton and incumbent assessor Kevin Jacobs, Republican candidates have not raised as much money as their Democratic rivals.
In the Auditor's race, Democrat Jeff Hatch has raised $25,200 to $11,000 for Republican Scott Tingley. Longtime Recorder Gary Ott, a Republican, reported contributions of just $4,300 compared to $9,300 for Democrat Mary Bishop. And Democratic treasurer candidate Mike Fife, has taken in $15,500 compared to $8,700 for Wayne Cushing, the GOP officeholder.
Jacobs, by contrast, has received $32,000 in donations this campaign to $2,600 for Democrat Tyler Andrus, whose quarterly contribution total was a measly $250.
Among the largest individual contributors, the disclosures showed, was the Los Angeles-based Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters union. It gave $8,000 to Democrats — $4,000 to Wilson, $3,000 to Gill and $1,000 to Winder.