It’s not often you see a zero on a financial disclosure form for a candidate running for office.
That’s exactly the case in the race between Republican Aimee Newton and Democrat Dan Snarr for Salt Lake County Council District 3.
Snarr reported zero contributions and zero expenditures for the latest quarter, while Newton pulled in $23,197 and spent $4,082 for the latest reporting period. That leaves Newton with $23,937 on hand, while Snarr has $375 in his war chest.
Snarr says there’s a very good reason for his lack of campaign activity.
“I haven’t gone out and asked for money,” says the former Murray Mayor. “If you’re not asking for money, you don’t get any.”
Snarr says his attention has been focused on taking care of his daughter, who has MS. “I put my family first and need to get things resolved there.”
For her part, Newton says she is pleased with her fundraising progress so far.
“We still have about $14,000 in pledges we are in the process of collecting that didn’t appear on my financial disclosure,” said Newton in an email to Utah Policy. “Running for office is hard, but getting a check in the mail here or there is one of the things that keeps you going.”
Snarr says he won’t be quiet for much longer. He’s planning on putting up a billboard along I-15 in the industrial park he owns, and he will start hustling for donations.
“I’ve got a group of people who have promised to support me financially in my campaign. We will make some things happen. I’m really not going to start pushing hard until September.”
