Race for governor heats up with new campaign ads

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SALT LAKE CITY -- The state's premier political matchup this fall is gaining steam. Democratic challenger Peter Corroon began running his first campaign ads this week in his race against Gov. Gary Herbert -- and they don't come without a little controversy.

Corroon and Herbert are running to finish the remainder of former Gov. Jon Huntsman's term. Both candidates are raising significant sums of money and preparing to spend it, especially on TV ads.

"I'm Peter Corroon. It's time that our state government focus on the basics. As mayor, I cut government so it's smaller today than when I took office," Corroon says in one of the new ads.

The Corroon campaign describes the Democrat's first round of ads as "get to know you" spots.

"It's a substantial buy that's been made, ads running throughout the state," says Stella Thurkill, communications director for the Corroon campaign.

One ad includes Republican lawmaker Sheryl Allen, Corroon's running mate.

"We'll focus on the basics -- better schools, more jobs, tougher ethics -- done across party lines and done right," Herbert says in another ad.

"We don't want to focus on party lines," Thurkill says. "We want to focus on the fact we have a bipartisan ticket and people are very excited about it. They're tired of politics as usual."

A Seattle-based firm created the ads, though the campaign says they used a local crew to shoot them.

Herbert campaign officials say they will use only Utah companies for their ads, which will focus, like Corroon's, on the economy and jobs.

"We intend to have a rigorous campaign in all of the media, and you'll be seeing the Herbert ads soon," says Don Olsen, communications director for the Herbert campaign.

Observers expect, together, the two sides to spend upwards of $3 million.

Last year, Herbert raised $1 million at one gala fundraiser. The Corroon campaign says it's raised nearly $300,000 this month and $1.5 million to date from nearly 3,800 individual contributions.

"Well, people are very excited about the Corroon-Allen ticket, and they've been very willing to step forward and volunteer; some have donated," Thurkill says.

"We are very, very happy with the way our fundraising is going," Olsen says. "We're going to be in really good shape going forward."

Next month, the fundraising battle heats up. Gov. Herbert will host a high-dollar gala fundraising event featuring sponsorships of up to $50,000, which will include a VIP reception with the governor.

Utah is one of a handful of states with no campaign contribution limits.

E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com