Advertising-linked PAC donates billboard space for 3 SLC mayoral candidates

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A political action committee known as “Utahns for Independent Government,” which is linked to Reagan Outdoor Advertising, has put up electronic billboards for three Salt Lake City mayoral candidates — at no cost to the campaigns.

The three contenders benefiting are Luz Escamilla, David Garbett, and David Ibarra. They said they did not have anything to do with the ads, and did not even provide photos for them.

“I was frankly delighted it was there,“ said Ibarra, of his billboard. “I could use all the name ID help I could get.“

Reagan Outdoor’s Dewey Reagan said the company did not ask for anything from the candidates in exchange for the free high-profile plugs, but believes the three are willing to look at “problems” in the city’s billboard ordinance. Reagan said the code does not allow relocation of billboards, a provision that he maintained hinders development.

The company has given “In-kind billboard donations“ to a slew of candidates across the state from both major parties, and it may have provided sizable donations in the last mayor’s race against former Mayor Ralph Becker. Becker lost to current Mayor Jackie Biskupski, who is not running for re-election.

Most of the candidates this time are not getting Reagan’s help.

There have been no free billboards for Jim Dabakis — who is thought to be the front-runner — and Dabakis said he does not want them.

“If somebody were to put a billboard with my name on it, without my authorization, they would find themselves in court,“ he said, but added if elected mayor, he will not get rid of billboards.

Another candidate with no free board space, Erin Mendenhall, said 600 South, dotted with billboards on both sides of the street, is an area where billboard owners “are perpetuating blight, and preventing that thoroughfare from being the grand entrance to our city that it should be.”

The donated billboard ads are legal, and must be reported, which the PAC did at the end of June. That disclosure put the value of the donated billboard space at more than $50,000.