Utah's legislative leaders stockpile campaign cash

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The No. 1 leader in the Utah House of Representatives had $300,000 in his campaign war chest at the end of 2007.

It's a lot of money for House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, who says he has no higher political ambitions.

Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, ended the year with more than $130,000 in his political bank account.

Curtis and Valentine say it's easier for them to raise political contributions than for rank-and-file lawmakers and that they can share the wealth with fellow Republicans facing another election year.

Valentine says the "stars would have to line up properly" for him to run for a higher office. He wouldn't specify which office, but has been rumored to have an eye on succeeding Gov. Jon Huntsman, who plans to run for a second term in November.

Huntsman has said he would serve only two terms.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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