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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's Democratic gubernatorial nominee is challenging Republican Gov. Gary Herbert to impose a voluntary limit on campaign contributions of $10,000 per contributor.
In a letter sent to Herbert Wednesday, Corroon challenges Herbert to also put a ban on contributions from companies who do business with or receive incentives from the state.
He says this means refunding any amount over $10,000 from any contributor going back to August of last year, and refunding any contribution of any amount received from a company or individual who does business with or receives incentives from the state.
"Today I'm challenging Gary Herbert to stand with me, to stand with his predecessor Jon Huntsman, to stand with former state senator, now Lt. Governor Greg Bell, and stand with thousands of Utahns and let us take the big money out of this campaign," Corroon said in a press conference Wednesday.
Corroon is offering to refund large campaign contributions, but only if Herbert does, too. He said, "If you and your campaign accept this challenge, I'm prepared to refund over a quarter of a million dollars from my campaign. No doubt, this will take a significant toll on our campaigns -- but it would be an admirable endeavor."
Instead of agreeing to speak on camera, Herbert's Campaign Manager Joseph Demma issued a statement saying if Corroon has "reservations" about any donations he's received, "returning them should not be contingent upon the governor."
The statement read in part, "As governor, Gary Herbert has maintained an open, transparent and ethical administration and campaign. How he governs the State of Utah is not affected by who does or does not support our election campaign." [Click here to read the entire statement.]
This latest campaign maneuver comes as the two candidates grapple over questions of money, influence and access. Corroon has been attacking Herbert for accepting large campaign contributions from companies that receive state contracts and tax incentives.
Corroon says he favors limits and would support public financing of elections.
For months, the governor voiced skepticism about limits, instead favoring full disclosure.
"So they can analyze the why, why did that group support Gary, try to analyze whether they support me or not as opposed to whether they've given me $5- or $10,000," Herbert said in January of 2010.
Monday Herbert told the Deseret News editorial board that if he thought limits would "make elections better," he was willing to listen.
Corroon said, "We think it's the right thing to do, and Gary Herbert has expressed some interest in doing it this past week."
In his last race, former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. limited his campaign to $10,000 contributions -- a number Herbert's running mate Greg Bell favored in legislation he sponsored as a lawmaker.
The mutual disarmament proposal clearly would cost Herbert more. Corroon's camp says it would have to give back more than $300,000 of his $1.8 million total. Herbert, who has raised $2.6 million total, would have to return at least $850,000, according to Corroon's campaign.
Utah is one of a handful of states that places no limits on who can donate to a campaign, how often those contributions can be made or how large contributions can be.
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Story compiled with contributions from John Daley and the Associated Press.
