Republican gubernatorial candidates have raised and spent $800,000 in their campaigns so far, well on the way to becoming a multimillion-dollar contest.

Insurance executive Mike Leavitt leads the pack with contributions totaling $358,500. But writer-businessman Richard Eyre is close behind with $336,300 raised. Salt Lake County Commissioner Mike Stewart comes in third at $110,200.The men have spent most of that cash as the state Republican Convention approaches next week - Leavitt has only $17,400 in cash on hand; Stewart $2,500; and Eyre $1,000, the first financial disclosures in the GOP race show.

Leavitt and Eyre have both prided themselves in campaign finances - but for different reasons.

Eyre won't take money from political-action committees, won't accept more than $500 from an individual, $1,000 from a couple or $5,000 from a business. There's no legal limit on the amount an individual or business can contribute to Utah gubernatorial races, and Eyre says large contributions and PAC money taint campaigns.

Leavitt, who has significant personal wealth, has said he won't put his own money into his campaign.

But reports filed Friday show that both men may have fudged a bit on those pledges.

For example, Eyre doesn't place his limits on in-kind contributions, saying it's too difficult to determine if a billboard may cost $5,005 and thus mean he can't accept it. Eyre lists $90,719 in in-kind contributions - almost a third of the money he's raised and spent. Some of those in-kind contributions are greater than the $5,000 cash limit he imposes on businesses.

And a number of businesses associated with Leavitt - either owned or partially owned by his family or the family's insurance companies - gave to Leavitt's campaign. A quick review of Leavitt's 200-page report shows that at least $30,400 came from Leavitt-related insurance agencies or Cedar Development Corp., a Leavitt family business.

Leavitt has said before that Eyre's self-imposed campaign contribution limits don't amount to much. PACs traditionally don't give to governor's races. And because Utah law allows businesses to give directly to gubernatorial races - federal law prohibits businesses from giving to federal races - usually a company will donate directly to a preferred Utah gubernatorial candidate and not even bother going through the firm's PAC.

Eyre's report shows that Sinclair Real Estate, the owner of the old Rick Warner Ford showroom where Eyre has his campaign headquarters, has donated $11,100 worth of free rental space. Professional Display has donated $10,000 worth of work, while Modern Display has donated $5,000 worth of goods or services.

Eyre's campaign also has spent $7,440 to buy 2,500 copies of Eyre's book on Utah, the state's problems and his solutions: "Utah in the Year 2000." Eyre says he was very careful to buy the book at its production cost. Eyre is not only the author of the book, but also the publisher. "Neither the author nor the publisher made a dime on the purchase; we were very careful about that," Eyre said.

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Also, because of complaints that Eyre may make money on the book or make money through his citizen action group - Citizens For Utah - Eyre included all contributions to Citizens For Utah and book dealings starting last summer, well before he actually declared his candidacy, even though legally he didn't have to do that.

Leavitt, who has placed no limit on campaign contributions, accepted $10,000 from the Utah Education Association, the largest teacher union, which has endorsed him; $5,000 from New York-based Goldman Sachs; $11,800 from Navitech Products; $7,500 from Nu Skin; and $10,000 from the Simmons Family Inc.

Eyre has accepted $5,000 contributions from Alexander Hamilton Insurance, Stephen Covey Industries, Novell and Skousen Enterprises.

Stewart has an $8,000 contribution by Larry Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz; $15,000 from James Sorenson; and $5,000 from the Utah Public Employees Association, the largest state employee union, which has endorsed him.

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