Though on the surface Provo's municipal council votes are often unanimous, elections and backroom politics can be a real sausage grinder. A closer look at Provo's recent campaign finance reports show just who is stuffing whose casings.

Topping it all off is Steve Turley, whose finance report shows nearly $5,000 spent for polling and research. What may not have been known, though, is that several thousand dollars of that was used to poll the race between incumbent Barbara Sandstrom, Sherrie Hall Everett and write-in Howard Stone.

Turley, an admitted political junkie, says that his polling data wasn't given to any of the three, that he doesn't have a favorite in the race and that he simply wants a feel for the tone of the post-election council, should he defeat his own challenger Coy Porter.

"You get someone on the council that's open minded ... and maybe you can work with that person," he said.

What the poll shows is that instead of Stone being a spoiler nipping at the two primary winners, he is actually polling as high as Hall Everett. Sandstrom maintains a solid lead.

Some council members' interest in other races is enough to open their wallets or pound some pavement.

George Stewart, the Provo council chairman, has given $200 to Melanie McCoard's campaign to unseat incumbent Midge Johnson.

"Having worked with Midge on the council, I just feel I could work better with Melanie," Stewart said. "There's been enough areas of disagreement and misrepresentation."

Those include a veto override vote the two disagreed on and another case that Stewart claims he was joking with Johnson that she says was a threat.

He says he likes McCoard because despite a style that tends to stir things up, or perhaps because of it, she's thorough in her examination of issues.

The chairman is also backing Cynthia Dayton, who is facing the well-financed Mark Sumsion.

Stewart, who beat Sumsion two years ago for his citywide seat, said he's put up 40 or 50 signs for Dayton and will be contributing financially to her campaign.

Dayton also has the backing of Councilwoman Cindy Clark, who along with her husband gave Dayton $500.

Clark's backing has a different tone than Stewart's support of McCoard.

"It's nothing against Mark, its just trying to keep Cynthia on the council," she said. "I learned more from her than just about anybody. I think it would be a shame if we were to lose her."

The names on the reports don't tell the whole story. If someone donates less than $50, they can remain anonymous. Several candidates said such donors on their lists include council members or city employees who want them to win, but don't want to risk upsetting their opponents if they don't.