SALT LAKE CITY -- An expedited ruling from a high court, conspiracy theories and charges of public corruption are usually ingredients for a Hollywood blockbuster movie.

The state treasurer is responsible for running an office that manages state investments. It's a low-profile job that's been held by the same man, Edward Alter, for 28 years. But his decision to not seek re-election has set off an intraparty feud that has shattered Ronald Reagan's commandment to not speak ill of a fellow Republican.

Richard Ellis claims his GOP primary opponent, Mark Walker, offered to let him keep his job and give him a 53 percent raise if he would quit the treasurer's race and remain deputy treasurer.

Walker and Ellis agree they had a private March 17 meeting at a downtown seafood restaurant to discuss Ellis's employment, but Walker denies offering the raise, which Ellis says he was promised because of Walker's connections in the Legislature.

Walker says Ellis is in cahoots with one of his former banking colleagues to derail the 32-year-old state representative's political ambitions.

That colleague, Carl Empey, is one of Ellis's campaign contributors. He sent an e-mail to Republican Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert on June 2 outlining how he was used as an intermediary between Walker and Ellis to make the offer.

Empey, who advises the state on financial matters, has known Ellis, 48, more than a decade.

"I am pretty positive that there was some collusion on their part," Walker said.

Ellis has repeatedly called on Herbert to make a ruling whether an investigation by the state attorney general's office is warranted before the primary, but Herbert has refused.

Meanwhile, shortly after Ellis' filed his May 30 complaint, Walker said he received an ominous phone call from Empey.

"He threatened me to get out of the race or it was going to get ugly," Walker said. "I don't know what he means. I got the feeling that he probably meant a whole lot of things."

A message seeking comment left at a number listed for Empey was not returned.

The accusations don't stop there.

Walker, who resigned from his banking job this spring, says Ellis is illegally using public resources to run for public office, contending that Ellis is campaigning while on the job.

"Campaigning for a statewide election is a full-time job," Walker said. "My opponent probably should've resigned from his job so taxpayers weren't helping pay for his campaign."

Ellis denies any wrongdoing.

"I've used an awful lot of vacation hours over the past few months," he said. "They're on a fishing expedition trying to divert attention."

Herbert says he won't make a ruling on whether an investigation into Ellis's claims is warranted until after the primary because he doesn't want to impact the election's outcome.

Whoever wins the Republican primary will likely win the general election in a state dominated by Republicans.

In a June 13 hearing seeking immediate relief, Supreme Court justices scoffed at Herbert's argument that he could influence the outcome of the election, but ruled state law doesn't require him to make a decision before the primary.

Any ruling by Herbert would only direct Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to begin an investigation. Even then, politics are involved.

Shurtleff has donated $5,000 to Walker's campaign, and he gave Walker a glowing recommendation at the state Republican convention in May.

"I call Mark 'Triple Threat' Walker. And the triple threat is: substantial private sector financial experience, experience in the Legislature where laws are made and demonstrated conservative values as a Republican," Shurtleff said.

By being a loyal Republican foot soldier during his two terms in the House, Walker also earned the endorsements of legislative leaders and U.S. Rep Rob Bishop, R-Utah.

Ellis contends that legislative leaders are trying to put Walker in office so they can control him.

"They have some interest out there in wanting to do something, but I have no idea what they think this office can do to further some other goal," Ellis said.

While Walker has the blessing of party leaders, Ellis has the backing of county treasurers around the state; former Gov. Olene Walker, for whom he was chief budget writer; and several state lawmakers.

Ellis and his supporters say he's the only one with practical, necessary experience to manage the state's finances and that he could stand up to the Legislature to tell them things about state finances they don't want to hear, but should.

"I think people need to make the decision, is this a professional office or a political office?" Ellis said. "This office has run invisibly for a lot of years. It's run that way because it has professional management. If citizens and voters seem to think it's a political office and want a treasurer who is in the headlines every day with the governor and attorney general, then I'm probably not the right guy for them to vote for."

Walker agrees with Ellis that the treasurer's office has been invisible for years, but he says that's not something Utah should be proud of. He says the state treasurer needs to spend time meeting with local governments, produce annual reports and become more transparent.

"As we've been out meeting with rank and file Republicans, they don't know what the treasurer does," Walker said. "Why isn't the treasurer better known? This is an important job. ... It's about time that the treasurer's office becomes accountable to the people."

On the Net: • Utah State Treasurer: www.treasurer.state.ut.us/ • Utah Election Office: elections.utah.gov