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Two Utah Republican candidates failed to file required financial disclosures in congressional race
Republicans Case Lawrence and Stewart Peay, two of the five candidates in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, missed the primary deadline to file required financial disclosures.
(Spenser Heaps | Pool) Case Lawrence and Stewart Peay, candidates in the Republican primary for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, participate in a televised debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
| June 18, 2024, 7:51 pm
| Updated: 8:06 p.m.
Last week, the quintet of Republicans in the primary election for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District seat said members of Congress should be required to disclose the names of any companies in which they hold an investment. But two of the candidates have not yet filed the required Financial Disclosure Report with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Federal law requires all congressional candidates to publicly disclose their assets, income and liabilities at least 30 days before the primary election. Utah State Auditor John Dougall, State Senator Mike Kennedy and Roosevelt Mayor JR Bird met the filing deadline.
“It should be the least we can do, as congressmen demand transparency about finances, both about our own investments, about our own stock trading, but also about those who contribute and donate to our campaigns”, declared businessman Case Lawrence during the debate. “It’s a small sacrifice to pay to encourage and further increase people’s trust in Congress, which is at an all-time low.”
According to the most recent disclosures from the Federal Election CommissionLawrence primarily self-funded his campaign, lending the effort $2.5 million.
Despite his commitment to transparency, Lawrence did not submit his disclosure report or ask for an extension. The Lawrence campaign did not respond to questions from The Salt Lake Tribune.
Attorney Stewart Peay also did not file his disclosure report. In a text message to The Tribune, Peay called it an oversight that he would immediately correct. Peay did submit a financial disclosure for his 2017 congressional campaign, where he was eliminated from contention at the Republican Party nominating convention.
Members of Congress and some staffers are also required to disclose their personal finances. The penalty for violators is minimal: a US$200 fine.
In its publication, Bird has listed ownership of two office buildings worth between US$1 million and US$5 million. Last year, rental income from these properties was between $50,000 and $100,000. Paragon Oilfield Products, a company he owns, earned more than $2 million last year and paid him a salary of $93,000. Bird also listed ownership of a bank account worth between $1 million and $5 million. He did not disclose any investments.
Kennedy’s request shows he earned a salary of $90,000 from his medical practice, which he values at between $100,000 and $1 million. It also lists several investment accounts worth up to $1.3 million.
Dougall’s maximum value investment and retirement accounts total around $4 million, of which he earned approximately $3,500 in dividends and interest last year. His only other income came from Eyering Systems, a California-based engineering consulting firm, which he co-owns.