SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Council has remained a GOP-majority body since 2011, but now the Democratic fight to take control is heating up.

Republican County Councilman Richard Snelgrove and Democratic challenger Catherine Kanter exchanged verbal jabs Thursday in their race for an at-large seat seat on the council — which could tip the political scales in Utah's largest county.

Kanter took the first shot, holding a news conference Thursday at the Salt Lake County Complex on Thursday to accuse him of illegal campaigning and hypocrisy over his platform as protector of taxpayer dollars.

In response, Snelgrove criticized Kanter for grasping at straws over an issue he said he had nothing to do with. Snelgrove also questioned whether Kanter could relate to Salt Lake County's working class, pointing out her lavishly funded campaign and her family's wealth.

It's the first round of attacks in what will likely be one of the highest-profile local races in the November election, with the power to impact the political balance in a major portion of a state that bleeds mostly red.

Illegal campaign signs

Kanter decried the placement of Snelgrove's campaign signs on interstate overpasses — a class B misdemeanor if done without permission from the Utah Department of Transportation.

While it's become common practice for candidates from a variety of races to post signs along the chain-link fences above freeway overpasses, Kanter accused Snelgrove as being "one of the most egregious violators."

"Mr. Snelgrove claims he is a champion of the taxpayer, yet every time a UDOT or city public works crew is sent out to remove illegally placed signs, our hard-earned tax dollars are wasted," she said. "My opponent seems to be willing to ignore this fact in pursuit of office."

Snelgrove said his campaign discourages placement of his signs on freeway overpasses, but he can't always control the actions of his "energetic and enthusiastic volunteers."

"On occasion, (the signs) get placed where they shouldn't," he said, adding that his campaign instructs volunteers to take the signs down when they're placed in inappropriate locations.

The Republican incumbant accused Kanter of making a "desperate criticism" over an issue that "doesn't have anything to do with my individual candidacy, nor with any particular party."

"It's somewhat disingenuous that she's going to be critical of me (for the signs) because, jeez, she's got a lot of fingers pointed back at her own party," he said, noting that several Democratic candidates have also had signs posted on freeway overpasses, including Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Weinholtz.

Signs on freeway overpasses have also advertised other Republican candidates — including Gov. Gary Herbert and the state's chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Sean Reyes.

But Kanter said the fact that freeway signs have become common doesn't "justify the practice." She added that the signs also present public safety concerns because a storm could dislodge a sign and drop it on the freeway and potentially cause an accident.

"As I often remind my teenage son — just because everyone is doing something, doesn't make it right," she said.

Campaign funding

So far, Kanter has raised $206,000 in contributions for her campaign, according to campaign finance reports released Thursday.

In contrast, Snelgrove has raised about $55,000.

The Republican candidate said he relies heavily on a "grass-roots campaign," while Kanter comes from a family of wealth.

"I certainly don't have the millions that she has available to spend on this campaign," Snelgrove said.

Kanter is married to Josh Kanter, founder of the Alliance for a Better Utah, president of the investment firm Windy City Inc., and a member of the political group Patriotic Millionaires of Utah.

The Kanter family also belongs to the Democracy Alliance, "a club of wealthy liberals" that requires annual dues of $30,000 and contributions of about $200,000 a year to recommended groups, Politico has reported.

Noting their wealth, Snelgrove said the Kanter family is "out of tune with the hardworking people of Salt Lake County."

Jolted by Snelgrove's comment, Kanter was quick to point out she comes from a middle-class background — having been raised by two teachers — and put herself through law school.

"Firstly, Josh isn't running for this office. I'm running for this office," she said, accusing Snelgrove of "throwing dirt" and making "noise to distract from real issues."

Kanter noted that she's spent more than a decade working for Neighborhood House, a daycare program for low-income families in Utah, and that she's received endorsements from major labor organizations in Utah, including the Utah American Federation of Labor.

"I can absolutely say labor is supporting Kanter for council, no question," she said. "And there's no way I could have gotten (those endorsements) unless I was able to go to labor groups and make that case that I'm actually the candidate who will support working class families."

Kanter also pointed out that her campaign contributions consist of mostly individuals — more than 400 donors, according to her reports. Snelgrove has received contributions from about 90 donors.

However, while some of Kanter's donations range from $5 to $100, others hit the county's $6,000 contribution cap, including donations from herself, her husband, and other six other members of the Kanter family. In fact, nearly $47,000 comes from donors with the last name Kanter, according to her reports.

Still, about 80 percent of Kanter's donations come from individuals, which she says shows that her campaign has a grass-roots focus and that she has a "compelling message."

Kanter also said she's an advocate of the county's campaign contributions law, which she said protects from financial influence.

"I can't and won't buy a seat," she said, attributing her ability to raise funds to her experience with nonprofits. "I know how to raise money, and that's helped me in this instance. It's not because I've gone out and asked all of my wealthy friends to donate money. I have not done that, and I think my record reflects that."

While Snelgrove's campaign is also funded by individual donors, his finance reports show he used a $10,000 loan from his travel agency, Snelgrove Travel Center Inc., to start his campaign, as well as a $3,020 in-kind donation from his company, and several donations from other businesses — including $2,500 from Snowbird, $2,000 from the Salt Lake Board of Realtors, $5,000 from Skaggs Cos., and $1,000 from a CenturyLink political action committee.

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