The October financial disclosure statements have been released by the Lt. Governor’s office for three Political Issues Committees focused on Orem’s Proposition 2.

Two PICs favor the proposition, Orem Parents for a Better Education and Orem’s Future, while the third, StrongerTogether, is against it.

Proposition 2 seeks to split the city of Orem away from the Alpine School District and form its own school district in the contiguous boundaries of the city.

The financial disclosures show balances, donations and expenditures from Sept. 26 to Oct. 27. The following appear in the October statements:

Orem Parents for a Better Education

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald file photo

The group shows contributions/donations equaling $220,000.

Those donations come from only two sources, Todd Pedersen, the sponsor of the PIC, who gave $160,000, and Alex Dunn, former president of Vivint Smart Homes, who donated $66,538 in October. Dunn had previously donated $100,000.

The PICs expenditures equaled $181,511, with an ending balance of $75,549.

The majority of the expenditures went to advertising with EffecTV, the advertising arm of Comcast, receiving $61,200. ASG Consulting (Albright Stonebridge Group), a multidisciplinary advisory group, received $19,000.

It appears that other large expenditures went toward food and supplies. Dunn and Pedersen sponsored a number of dinners at their homes for the public to learn about Proposition 2.

StrongerTogether

This group, the only one against Proposition 2, had more than 70 donations, mostly in small sums of less than $100.

Its beginning balance was $22,474 with contributions in October of $39,144. Expenditures were $44,419, leaving an ending balance of $17,198.

Expenditures included $1,555 paid to Taylor Williams, chief deputy clerk/auditor for Utah County. Williams contracted with StrongerTogether to be its campaign manager.

A number of residents have called Rozan Mitchell, Utah County’s elections director, concerned there may be a conflict of interest for Williams.

“There isn’t anything in state law that prohibits it,” Mitchell said. “He was upfront and had permission.”

Josh Daniels, Utah County clerk/auditor, gave his approval and Williams was completely transparent with him, according to Mitchell.

Williams has been a campaign manager before, and also played a small role in the “No to Prop 9” campaign. At that time, he was not in his current job with the county. Regarding ballots, Mitchell said there should be nothing for people to worry about. She noted that Williams doesn’t have a key or know the code to get into the ballot room.

“He is not assisting in the center and cannot touch the ballots,” Mitchell said.

Residents who are concerned can sign in their name, get a badge and have access to watch the counting process and be a poll watcher, Mitchell added.

Other large contributors to StrongerTogether include:

• Amanda Vellinga, $10,000
• Jim Evans, $3,000
• Julie Collins, $1,000
• Guy Fugal, $5,000
• Morgan Vandagriff, $5,000
• Eileen Gale, $1,000

Other recognizable names that donated small sums include Orem council member Debby Lauret, Police Chief Josh Adams and Patti Harrington, former Utah state superintendent of public instruction.

Orem’s Future

The smaller group favoring Proposition 2 had three donations in October. Linda Messmer and Guy Vandyke each gave $100 and Barbara Decker $40.

The PICs beginning balance was $1,154 and its expenditures for advertising was $93. With the added contributions, its ending balance is $1,300.

The PICs have one more financial disclosure statement that is due following the elections.

Mail-in ballots must be postmarked Monday or dropped in one of many county drop boxes by Tuesday. The County Elections office will release the first batch of counted ballots at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with one more between 10 and 11 p.m.

On Wednesday afternoon, they will release more numbers and the amount of ballots yet to be counted.