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PROVO — Supporters of Provo Mayor John Curtis have launched a web page raising funds on his behalf and encouraging him to run against Rep. Jason Chaffetz in a Republican primary contest.
The web page on www.crowdpac.com* lists Curtis's accomplishments as mayor and levels several criticisms at Chaffetz. As of Wednesday night, the site had raised more than $2,000 on Curtis' behalf.
Those who make donations toward a potential Curtis campaign are only charged if he actually decides to run, according to the crowd-funding political activism site.
Curtis has previously announced he will not seek a third term as Provo mayor. He told KSL on Wednesday that he's grateful for the support shown on the fundraising site, but didn't commit to the idea of running for Congress.
"I’m sincerely flattered at the confidence residents in our community see in me. I’d like to think it’s a result of all the amazing successes we’ve seen in Provo over the last seven years," Curtis said in a message. "That said, I’m still the mayor and I have a responsibility to Provo and its residents until I complete my term in eight months. That’s my focus and I don’t see any deviation from that in the short term."
The webpage, which is not officially affiliated with the mayor, called Curtis "a dynamic leader" who has "a track record of strong leadership, consensus building, and success."
"Chaffetz has proven to be hyper-partisan, willing to do or say anything to climb the political ladder. ... Mayor Curtis is the opposite — he's a leader Utahns can be proud of," the fundraising page states.
The site says Curtis will need to be persuaded from his interests in rejoining the private sector after finishing as mayor. "He's been successful in that arena before with leadership roles at OC Tanner and Action Target, so I understand why that sounds appealing to him. But I think we should work together to change his mind."
Chaffetz declined to comment for this story when contacted by KSL. The Republican congressman, currently serving his fifth two-year term, won re-election by a landslide in November with nearly three-quarters of the vote.
But Chaffetz has also become a lightning rod for political groups such as Utah Indivisible, who have heavily criticized him for his role on the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, claiming he hasn't done enough in that role to hold President Donald Trump accountable for multiple controversies early in his administration.
A raucous town hall that Chaffetz hosted in Cottonwood Heights in February, in front of a hostile crowd, garnered national headlines.
Curtis told Utah Valley 360 in a January story that he is a "conservative Republican," despite running for the Utah Senate as a Democrat earlier in his political career. *Disclaimer: KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit or donation you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
