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SALT LAKE CITY -- Backers of an ethics reform initiative say they believe they've exceeded the 95,000 signatures needed to put the measure on the ballot in 2012. Still, the next likely step is a fight over the petition in court.
The group Utahns for Ethical Government needed to gather a certain number of signatures in 26 of 29 senate districts.
Wednesday, volunteers for the group delivered thousands of signatures on behalf of their legislative ethics petition which, among other things, would establish a code of conduct and campaign contribution limits. At the Utah County elections office, volunteers dropped off 12,000 signatures.
The group believes they've met the requirements to get the petition on the ballot in 2012, but many top state lawmakers don't see it that way.
In fact, a number of lawmakers oppose the campaign.
"It seems to me if the ethics initiative is an accurate portrayal of the will of the people, it ought to be done straight up," said Sen. John Valentine, R-Provo. "When the petition said it was voted on this November and people signed that petition and they didn't make it, they ought to try again for 2012. They ought not to play games."
Many in opposition believe the group missed its original deadline in April.
"My understanding is that we had one year from that date, not counting that date, so until 5:00 tomorrow," said volunteer Tom Sakievich. "So I understood that we had a full year. That's what I'm basing all this work on. So you think you've made it? Oh, absolutely."
"There are a number of conditions set out in the statute that have to be complied with to file a referenda," said Sen. John Valentine, R-Provo. "Candidly, when someone tries to be a little slick and they want to do it in the guise of being ethical, I really question that."
This showdown is likely headed to court.
An official in the Lt. Governor's office Wednesday afternoon told KSL they've directed county clerks to accept and process the signatures, but to not certify them -- at least not yet.
That's a decision the group behind the ethics petition will likely challenge in court.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
