This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the race for Salt Lake City mayor, Ralph Becker is still the big spender, throwing down $863,439 on his bid for a third term, compared with challenger Jackie Biskupski's expenditures of $536,420.
Biskupski has closed the gap recently with the help of aggressive fundraising, according to campaign finance disclosures filed Tuesday — the last before the Nov. 3 election. She outraised Becker by a 2-to-1 margin since finishing well ahead in the Aug. 11 primary, taking in $330,407 compared to Becker's $174,358.
Becker has spent all but $13,512 of his campaign fund of $876,000, according to the report.
He began the campaign with about $200,000 from previous years. In 2015, he raised $676,618.
Biskupski has raised $620,978 since January. She has $84,550 remaining, according to the report.
With a week to go until Election Day, the race looks to be close. A Dan Jones & Associates poll posted last week on Utahpolicy.com had Biskupski ahead 49 percent to 44 percent. The poll of 330 likely voters has a margin of error of 5.38 percent, making the race a statistical dead heat.
Among Becker's biggest campaign donors are the family and affiliated companies of John Price, developer and former ambassador, who have given $34,800; industrialist and Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort majority owner Ian Cumming, his family and companies, who donated $27,500; and the family of Jazz owner Gail Miller — $12,500.
Developers chipped in significant amounts. Dan Lofgren of Cowboy Partners gave $15,000; Dell Loy Hansen and his affiliated companies, $12,500; Bryson Garbett, $5,000; and Big D Construction, $5,000.
Among Biskupski's largest donors are the family of Don Skaggs who donated $10,000; Reagan Outdoor Advertising gave in-kind contributions of $7,500, plus much more in uncoordinated in-kind donations through a political action committee; business owner and former House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, $12,500.
Other big Biskupski donors included Hamburger Gibson Creative for $7,500; Lion Outdoor, $7,500; Woodland I-35 LP, $7,500; and former Solitude Mountain Resort owner Gary DeSeelhorst, $6,000.
In the City Council race for District 2, Van Turner reports raising zero and spending zero in his attempt to regain his former seat. His opponent, Andrew Johnston raised $6,871 and has spent $2,122, according to the campaign finance report.
In District 4, Derek Kitchen has raised $32,675 and has spent $26,640. Nate Salazar, who is opposing him, reported taking in $21,957 in donations with expenditures of $18,222.
In District 6, incumbent Councilman Charlie Luke reported donations of $41,116, while spending $29,060. His opponent, Tracey Harty, raised $13,670 and has spent $12,421.