McAdams outpaces GOP foes in mayoral money race

Republican Mark Crockett clearly wants to be Salt Lake County mayor, so much so that he has kicked in $84,500 of his own money to his campaign since early April — $1,000 more than GOP rival Mike Winder raised from all his donors during the same period.

But Democrat Ben McAdams proved to be the quarter's fundraising juggernaut, pulling in $158,627 from 547 contributors. What's more, he finished the financial-disclosure period Tuesday with almost $97,000 in the bank, compared with $4,000 for Winder and $17,700 for Crockett.

Winder and Crockett square off next Tuesday in a Republican primary that will determine who faces McAdams in November.

"It's a sign of the campaign's strength and the dedication of our supporters," McAdams said in a news release, noting that 80 percent of his donors gave $200 or less.

Crockett, a Holladay businessman and former county councilman, relied on his own finances for 80 percent of the $112,735 he took in. He made seven contributions to his campaign, including a pair of $20,000 donations.

Of the 37 contributors listed on his disclosure form, six gave $1,000 or more.

"Fundraising is difficult," said Crockett's campaign manager, Randy O'Hara. "Mark believes in the message he has. And he does have the ability to put his finances behind that message. That gives him more time to push that message. That's a more effective campaign strategy."

Crockett's disclosure form also showed that his expenditures of $112,218 included $82,000 to O'Hara's consulting firm.

O'Hara outlined how he spent that money in a three-page addendum to the report, seeking to alleviate grounds for another challenge by Winder campaign supporter Brent Overson, who had complained to the County Clerk's Office that Crockett's early-April disclosure was too vague in disclosing how payments to O'Hara & Associates were spent.

The District Attorney's Office is still reviewing that complaint, which O'Hara believes is not legitimate.

Winder, the mayor of West Valley City, spent $3,000 more than he raised from 132 contributors, 40 of whom gave $1,000 or more, the disclosure report showed.

His largest contributions came from West Valley City-based Green River Capital, LC and Wasatch Property Management, both of which gave $5,000.

Winder also received $4,000 from Canyons Resort in Park City and $3,500 from Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort President Bob Bonar.

Bonar was one of several contributors who gave money to multiple candidates, also donating $3,500 to McAdams.

The Salt Lake Board of Realtors endowed the Democratic state senator with $2,000, matching that with $1,000 apiece to the two Republicans.

Winder and McAdams also received $2,000 each from Waste Management Inc.

That California-based company was one of 31 contributors to give at least $1,000 to McAdams.

He received $6,000 donations each from the Thomas Kearns McCarthey Jr. Trust, Donna Weinholz, Michael Weinholz and Nicole Mouskondis, senior vice president of Nicholas & Co.

Since Jan. 1, McAdams has amassed $294,258 compared with $162,315 for Crockett and $140,158 for Winder.

In the race for an at-large County Council seat, incumbent Democrat Jim Bradley received $2,364 since April, less than either of the two Republicans squaring off in Tuesday's primary for the right to face him.

Businessman Melvin Nimer brought in $5,477 during the reporting period while his opponent, state Department of Workforce Services communications manager Joseph Demma, took in $7,380.

West-side Council District 2 incumbent Michael Jensen, a Republican, reported $10,600 in contributions.

His Democratic foe in November, former state legislator Brent Goodfellow, received $750.

For the east-central Council District 4 seat being vacated by Jani Iwamoto, fellow Democrat Sam Granato has collected $14,300 since mid-April while Republican Missy Larsen has picked up $7,050.

And in southeast Council District 6, GOP incumbent Max Burdick gathered $3,000 while his Democratic challenger, Paul Recanzone, received $600 in contributions.

mikeg@sltrib.comTwitter: @sltribmikeg —

The money chase in S.L. County mayor's race

Mark Crockett, Republican

Raised* • $112,735

Spent* • $112,218

Left • $17,705

Mike Winder, Republican

Raised* • $83,204

Spent* • $86,115

Left • $3,935

Ben McAdams, Democrat

Raised* • $158,627

Spent* • $95,511

Left • $96,880

* Reflects contributions and expenses from early April to mid-June

Source: candidate financial disclosure forms