LOGAN – In their final campaign finance disclosure statements mandated by state law prior to the upcoming municipal election, both candidates in the running for the post of mayor of Logan report that their campaigns are running in the red.
On Oct. 23, city council member Mark Anderson reported campaign expenditures of $2,700 against contributions of $1,250, resulting in a $1,450 deficit.
On the eve of the Oct. 28 submission deadline, rival candidate Alanna Nafziger filed a disclosure statement listing expenditures of $10,482.69 against contributions of $6,882.30, resulting in a deficit of $3,600.39.
In the period since Oct. 7, Anderson has chosen to finance his campaign activities out of his own pocket. His expenditures have included campaign expenses for digital advertising, security for an event at the Utah Theatre and costs related to an entry in the recent Utah State University Homecoming Parade.
The bulk of Nafziger’s spending – a total of $9,961.31 – have gone to the local Blueprint Store for typical campaign expenses like consulting fees, canvassing literature, digital advertising and direct mail costs.
More than 20 percent of Nafziger’s recent spending was financed by contributions from in-state political action committees, including $1,278.63 from the Utah Women & Politics PAC and $1,000 from the Fresh Air PAC.
Formed to participate in the 2017 Women’s March on Washington in defense of reproductive rights, racial equality, immigration and LGBTQ issues, the Utah Women & Politics PAC has remained together since with the announced intent of changing the face of the Utah Legislature.
The Fresh Air PAC is an arm of O2 Utah, a group that describes itself as a social welfare and social action organization that advocates for clean air policies and environmental protection.
Nafziger was already being criticized in some circles for accepting sizable donations from out-of-state political action committees.
According to previous financial disclosure statements, Nafziger has collected two donations totaling $10,000 from the Way Back PAC since she began campaigning for the mayoral post.
The Way Back PAC is a political action committee based in Wyoming that raises money to support candidates in the western United States who promote “representative and focused governing,” according to its website.
The candidate also received a personal contribution of more than $2,000 from USU professor Patrick Belmont, the former member of the city’s Renewable Energy & Sustainability Advisory Board (RESAB) who is vocally opposed to additional Logan utility investments in fossil fuels.
The municipal election in Logan is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4.