Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert's sold-out annual campaign fundraising gala Saturday night was so popular this year, he's planning on holding a second one in the coming months for sponsors and contributors who couldn't be accommodated.
The "On Broadway Governor's Gala" brought in some $825,000 for the GOP governor's re-election campaign, and the upcoming fundraiser is expected to bring that total to $1 million, Herbert spokesman Marty Carpenter said.
"What you see tonight is the strong support the governor has throughout the community," Carpenter said, especially the business community. "They clearly like what the governor is doing."
The list of top-level sponsors, who contributed $25,000, included Anadarko Petroleum, Huntsman Corp., Reagan Outdoor Advertising, the Utah Association of Realtors, the Utah Mortgage Bankers Association and Zions Bank.
Tables at the gala, held in the Grand America Hotel ballroom, sold for $5,000 each. The room was so full that giant TV screens had to be set up toward the back of the room so those sitting at tables in the rear could see the stage.
Herbert, who announced in June he intended to run again in 2016, already has several potential Republican opponents, including retiring House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, and Overstock.com Chairman Jonathan Johnson.
The governor has already won two elections, when he had to run for the remainder of former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s term in 2010 after Huntsman stepped down to become U.S. ambassador to China. Herbert was elected to his first full term in 2012.
He told the 1,200 lawmakers, lobbyists, business and community leaders in the audience he has been called Utah's "bragger in chief because I never miss an opportunity to talk about the great things that are happening in our state."
Saturday, the governor recognized the state's "top-notch" performing arts organizations that helped provide the evening's entertainment and gave away tickets to everyone in the audience.
Performers included the One Voice Children's Choir, who made it to the quarterfinals on NBC's "America's Got Talent," as well as singers and dancers from the Hale Centre Theatre and the Center Stage Performing Arts Studio.
Before leaving the stage, Herbert made a $7,500 contribution from the event's proceeds to the American Cancer Society's new Hope Lodge for cancer patients and their families.
First lady Jeanette Herbert told the audience that when the governor's late father was battling cancer, it was difficult for him to find a place to stay near the Huntsman Cancer Institute during his treatments because his home was in Utah County.
