So goes the objection from county GOP boss James Evans, lamenting that the "loophole" guts the effectiveness of having campaign caps. It dresses up the same pig in a different outfit, Evans says.

"The party simply becomes the launderer."

But counterpart Megan Risbon, the county's new Democratic chairwoman, notes both parties have a long history of kicking in cash.

"That's what we do," she says. "That's the role of the party to me - to promote their candidates and get their names out there."

The issue looms as Utah's most populous county ponders a new round of ethics reforms. Most officials praise a proposed $2,500 cap on individual donors, for instance, especially for contractors. But some argue that exempting parties could create a back door.

Billboards and even campaign signs potentially could be covered by a party, which is not subject to the disclosure rules candidates must abide.

"It's a problem," says Cassie Dippo, vice chairwoman of Common Cause of Utah.

Despite receiving $10,000 from the Republican Party for his successful campaign in 2004, Auditor Sean Thomas also backs a cap on all donors, including parties. He recently warned the County Council that failure to set a ceiling could create an opening for special-interest groups.

Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch doesn't buy it. He says putting a uniform cap on single donations while maintaining party muscle strikes an appropriate balance.

Council colleague Jenny Wilson, also a Democrat, points out that quantifying the value of multiple-candidate activities - which parties do - can be "very, very difficult."

"I favor caps," she says, "but we may have to exempt some traditional party activities."

Before the council votes - possibly on Aug. 30 - Wilson will propose some kind of limit on media buys and brochures provided by the parties.

She also will call for lowering individual donations from $2,500 to $2,000 - $1,000 less than she received last year from developer Rick Howa.

If caps had been in place during Campaign 2004, former Mayor Nancy Workman's war chest would have looked a lot lighter. Nixed would be the $23,000 she took from her lobbyist, The Tetris Group, along with the $20,000 she scored from Solitude Ski Resort and owner Gary Deseelhorst.

For months, a committee comprising council members, university instructors and government watchdogs such as the League of Women Voters and Common Cause contemplated the county's new campaign-finance ordinance. Some on the panel favored a $1,000 individual limit.

Republican Councilman Cort Ashton won't go that far. But he concedes public perception keys on the size of a contribution over the cost of a campaign.

"Unless it's my mom, I would say there's nobody that should give me a single $15,000 campaign contribution," Ashton says. "And, even then, I would wonder what she's up to."

Risbon, the Democratic chairwoman, says a political party should not be subjected to the same rules.

"Our job is to make sure our candidates have what they need to be viable," she says. "And what they need to win."

But Evans fears what that may mean as long as Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has his famous cousin.

"Howard Dean [chairman of the Democratic National Committee] will send all this money to the state party," he says, "and it will go to God knows who."

djensen@sltrib.com

Campaign contribution caps

Salt Lake City: Individual donors limited to $7,500 for a mayor candidate, $1,500 for a City Council hopeful.

Salt Lake County: Cap of $5,000 for mayor and at-large County Council candidates and $2,000 for district council hopefuls may change to $2,500 for all. A new proposal could lower that to $2,000. Political parties are exempt from limits, but that could change.