Jon Huntsman Jr. raised about $675,560 since the week before the election, with nearly two-thirds of that going into his newly created political action committee dubbed the "Governor's Special Initiative Office," according to year-end financial disclosure statements returned earlier this week.
Not counting the special initiative cash, Huntsman raised $3.95 million for his gubernatorial campaign, spending all but $11,000. The totals fall within the campaign's previous estimates.
Since beating out Democratic challenger Scott Matheson Jr. - who raised $2.1 million - Huntsman has received some big-money donations for his special initiatives.
Real estate broker J. Steven Price donated $40,000 on Dec. 1, the same day Republican-insider and businessman Ladd Christensen handed over $25,000.
Steve Creamer, who is buying Envirocare of Utah, gave Huntsman's PAC $25,000 on Dec. 14. The next day, Envirocare of Utah owner Khosrow Semnani announced he had sold his company to Creamer and a New York investment firm. Creamer in October contributed $15,000 to Huntsman's campaign. Huntsman's campaign has decided to return the $40,000 to Creamer, worried that keeping it would make them look sympathetic to Envirocare's attempts to store hotter types of radioactive waste in Tooele County.
Huntsman's Chief of Staff Jason Chaffetz said the PAC money has been used primarily to pay for his transition staff and expenses. One of those staffers is Russell Skousen, who received nearly $3,700 for policy consulting for the month of December. During that time, Skousen was finishing his term as a Salt Lake County Council member. Huntsman has since tapped Skousen for Commerce Department director.
During the campaign, Huntsman loaned himself $275,000 and took out loans for another $499,900. Chaffetz said it will take some time, and a number of fund-raisers, to cover those expenses, but promised the banks would be repaid before Huntsman pays himself back.
"Jon personally made contributions into the campaign, which he felt was important, but he never wanted to self-fund it," Chaffetz said. "He did a personal loan with the intention of paying himself back."
mcanham@sltrib.com
