Huntsman PAC raised over $1.4 million in 2006
The new numbers in the latest campaign financial disclosure documents filed with the state show that the Governor's Special Initiatives PAC has paid off a total of $214,000 in campaign debt left from his 2004 race.
That leaves about $300,000 left in campaign debt, Huntsman's spokeswoman, Lisa Roskelley, said. The governor, who has said he plans to seek a second four-year term in 2008, intends to pay off the rest of what's owed in the coming year.
"We're going to retire it before the next election cycle," Roskelley said of the debt, incurred when the governor loaned his campaign money. When he took office, she said, the amount was about $500,000.
Raising money, though, is not cheap. The report shows that the governor's PAC spent more than $60,000 on fund-raising consultants and on an October gala at the Salt Palace Convention Center where more than 1,000 people paid $250 a plate to attend.
The list of contributors on the Jan. 4 document included $10,000 from Canyon Equity, a California-based firm building a luxury resort in Big Water, a tiny town in southern Utah, that will be managed by a Singapore company known for lavish properties around the world.
Disclosure statements from other groups show the governor's PAC isn't the only big spender. For example, Parents for Choice in Education, a pro-school voucher group, spent $508,000, including $169,000 in the last reporting period.
Close behind was the Utah Association of Realtors, who spent $506,000 and — something to remember for future candidates — has almost $600,000 left in their fund. Their money is raised primarily with $50 or $100 donations from hundreds of realty agents in the state.
Other special interest PACs, such as Equality Utah, also raised and spent relatively large sums of money. The gay rights group spent almost $100,000, but they also have $243,000 left in their fund.
Party-centric committees were also active, with groups such as the Committee for a Democratic Majority, the Conservative Caucus PAC, or the Republican Senate Campaign Committee all spending more than $50,000.
And as always, financial institutions spread money around. This year, the $102,000 given to candidates by the Utah Credit Union PAC outdid the $72,000 given by Utah Bankers Association PAC. The last word, however, actually goes to the banks, thanks to the $73,000 spent by the Zions Bank Corp. PAC.
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