The difference is that while Corroon tapped about 1,500 donors over nine months, Ivory hit up his own bank account three weeks ago.
According to financial disclosure statements filed Tuesday, Ivory and his wife, Katie, donated $350,000 to his campaign. All but $6,615 has been spent, largely on advertising - including TV, radio and newspaper ads along with about 100 billboards and a campaign bus.
Corroon's campaign has raised $355,874. He still has $56,251 in his account. The rest has been spent on media advertising and other campaign expenses since he launched his candidacy in February.
Merrill Cook, a former GOP congressman running unaffiliated, reported contributions of $40,728. Only $2,233 remains unspent, according to his report filed with the County Clerk's Office.
The heftiest war chest belongs to Mayor Nancy Workman, who dropped out of the race weeks after being charged with two felonies for allegedly misusing taxpayer money. She amassed nearly $858,000 and spent more than $680,000. Workman still has $195,035 in her campaign account.
Under Utah law, the mayor can keep the money. Her spokesman, Chris Bleak, said she has not had time to determine how she will spend it because of her legal difficulties.
"Her first priority right now is probably her court case," he said.
After months of fund raising, Corroon said Tuesday it appears Ivory wants to "buy the election."
"Mr. Ivory may have a lot of money to put into his own campaign, but that doesn't show broad support."
Ivory spokesman Jim Bennett countered that if his candidate had more time, he could have raised as much money. "We've had to compress an eight- or nine-month campaign into just three weeks. Without [Ivory's self-funding], this would not be possible," he said of Ivory's last-minute campaign.
One pillar of Ivory's push for votes is that he is refusing to accept donations.
Long-shot candidate Cook said that both Ivory and Corroon are spending too much money on the mayor's race.
"People will see that my campaign is as effective as these slick ad campaigns run by both my opponents. People know that I know the issues," Cook said.
csmart@sltrib.com
