Utah: At $8.4M, school voucher fight costlier than last governor's race

Robert Gehrke:

The campaign clash over education vouchers has run up a tab that easily would fund Utah's voucher program well into its second year.

The more than $8 million in campaign expenditures, reported to the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Tuesday, included $2.6 million alone from Utah-based Overstock.com's Chief Executive Officer Patrick Byrne and family.

The contributions from Byrne and his parents, John and Dorothy, made up three-quarters of the $3.5 million pro-voucher forces raised since September. Earlier in the campaign, Byrne gave $290,000.

"I have been lucky to be the recipient of the American dream," Byrne said. "Whether you want to become a teacher or artist, an entrepreneur or doctor, having a great education is one of the keys to reaching dreams."

The voucher program, which narrowly passed in the Legislature, must survive a referendum on Tuesday to be enacted.

Fundraising and spending between Oct. 27 and the election won't be disclosed until January, under requirements of Utah law.

Most of the spending on both sides went to pay for the relentless campaigns that have targeted residents through TV, radio, newspapers, billboards and direct-mail ads.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at November 5, 2007 12:57 PM
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