This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah legislative candidates have spent $2 million combined this year — sometimes in ways that may surprise donors.

That includes often giving cash away, spending big amounts on food, and using it for personal benefit from gym memberships to express-lane tolls and sometimes putting thousands of dollars into candidates' pockets.

That emerges from a Salt Lake Tribune analysis of campaign-disclosure forms through Sept. 30 for candidates in the state's 90 legislative races.

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Giveaways • Candidates gave away at least $179,000, about one of every $11 they spent.

Most of that money was donated to other candidates or party arms. But much went to a wide range of other community groups — including local schools, bands, scouts, hospitals and youth livestock shows. Of course, that may help build goodwill and give a boost to a candidate.

Some interesting donations include Sen. Brian Shiozawa, R-Cottonwood Heights, a physician, giving $5,000 to the American Heart Association. Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, gave $1,200 to Friends of the National Rifle Association.

Rep. Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, gave $750 in campaign funds to a family whose home burned down. Rep. Jeremy Peterson, R-Ogden, donated $150 to a mortuary to help bury an indigent person.

Others gave to nonprofit organizations ranging from Planned Parenthood ($150 by Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Millcreek) to the gay-rights Equality Utah ($475 by Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, who is openly gay).

Also, candidates spent at least another $5,500 on gifts — often to interns, campaign workers or constituents.

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Food • Like armies, legislative campaigns may travel on their stomachs. They spent at least $114,500 on food — about 6 percent of all their expenditures.

Of that, about $11,000 went specifically to feed party delegates, who can vote to place candidates on the primary ballot. Even more money may have gone to that effort, but disclosure forms often did not say exactly who was being fed.

While most delegate dinners were for fast food or at diners, some were at nicer restaurants including the Tucanos Brazilian grill (by Rep. Dean Sanpei, R-Provo), Outback Steakhouse (Sanpei), Olive Garden (by Reps. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, and Kay Christofferson, R-Lehi) and P.F. Chang's (Gibson).

Besides feeding delegates, Rep. David Lifferth, R-Eagle Mountain, spent $200 to take some delegates bowling.

Less money was spent to feed delegates than on the newly available alternate method of getting on the primary ballot by gathering signatures. Candidates spent $88,000 on petition passing, about 4 percent of all expenditures.

One company — Gathering, Inc. — raked in $79,000 of that amount.

Also, at least $16,000 of the food bill went toward candy, mostly to throw to crowds at parades.

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Personal benefit • Some spending went for items of personal benefit to candidates.

Utah law bans campaign spending that primarily benefits a candidate if it is not connected to campaigning or a duty of an officeholder. The lieutenant governor is responsible for this law's enforcement. Most of the spending reported arguably did not fit into that prohibition, but some appears clearly banned.

The spending included almost $55,000 to repay loans that had been made by candidates to their campaigns, which is allowed by law.

That includes $27,863 to Republican House candidate Mike Winder of West Valley City; $11,300 to Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy; $6,000 to Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross; $3,190 to Rep. Doug Sagers, R-Tooele; and $2,000 to Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab.

Some lawmakers paid family members for campaign work. Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, paid his son, Jason, $725 for help. Shiozawa paid his son, Peter, $500 for work as an assistant campaign manager. Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, paid his wife, longtime Democratic activist Josie Valdez, $1,000 for being his campaign manager.

Three members spent campaign money on gym memberships ($47 by Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem; $15 by Rep. Marc Roberts, R-Santaquin; and $120 by Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville). Utah law specifically prohibits use of campaign funds for personal fees or memberships at a "health club or recreational facility."

Four members spent campaign money on freeway express-lane tolls: Reps. Jake Anderegg and Kay Christofferson, both R-Lehi; and Sen. Deidre Henderson and Rep. Mike McKell, both R-Spanish Fork.

A small amount was spent on babysitting ($20 by Lifferth and $55 by Democratic House candidate Ash Anderson). Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clinton, used $20 in campaign funds to pay for a tour of Arlington National Cemetery.

Noel used campaign funds for dry cleaning and laundry during the legislative session. Exact amounts are unclear because he listed those among many other items included in credit card bills the campaign paid.

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Traditional • Of course, candidates spent the lion's share of their money on more traditional campaign expenses:

• $380,000 for campaign literature and printed materials, nearly a fifth of all spending;

• At least $191,700 for signs, mostly lawn signs, about 10 percent of their overall budgets.

• At least $30,500 for campaign T-shirts, about 2 percent of the total.