SALT LAKE CITY — Democratic candidate for governor Mike Weinholtz accused Gov. Gary Herbert on Wednesday of abusing his power at a secretly recorded meeting with lobbyists where he offered to meet with their clients in exchange for campaign contributions.

"The governor says there will be no quid pro quo for these checks, but I believe he is selling access to the highest office in the state, and this is an abuse of power," Weinholtz said a news conference on the steps of the Capitol.

House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, took time during the House GOP caucus meeting Wednesday to caution Republican lawmakers to be "incredibly careful about our conversations" because they may be secretly recorded.

"We have to be careful of our sarcasm, our flippant comments," Hughes said, as well as of accepting checks at the same time policy is being discussed. He urged them to "create bright lines" between the two activities.

The speaker's comments came hours before a House fundraising event.

Herbert told reporters Monday he was disappointed in himself and his campaign over the "tone and tenor" of a fundraising meeting with lobbyists held at the exclusive Alta Club shortly after his loss to Jonathan Johnson at the GOP state convention.

Johnson, the chairman of Overstock.com who is vying for the Republican Party nomination for governor against Herbert in the June 28 primary election, has also been critical of the meeting, calling it "sickening."

Marty Carpenter, Herbert's campaign manager, said in response to Weinholtz on Wednesday that "while his opponents are eager to sling mud and play D.C.-style politics, Gov. Herbert is focused on issues that make a real difference" to Utahns.

The governor said Monday he made it clear to the lobbyists present that there would be "no quid pro quo" if they set up meetings with their clients, yet he also acknowledged he called himself "Available Jones."

That reference to a character in the "Li'l Abner" comic strip known for his willingness to do anything for a price was intended to mean he was ready to meet with contributors, Herbert said.

Flanked by a "for sale" sign, Weinholtz announced his campaign will not accept corporate contributions and said he's taking money only from individuals "who feel they have no voice."

He also promised to open the doors to the governor's office two days a month to hear from Utahns, calling himself the "people's candidate" and the state Capitol the people's house.

Weinholtz, chairman of CHG Healthcare Services, loaned his campaign $1 million in February. He said he wanted to get his campaign off to a good start and will put more of his own money into the race "if necessary."

Utahns "don't see me as a disconnected rich guy," Weinholtz said, because he comes from a blue-collar background and has "earned everything I have" by working hard to start businesses.

Earlier this year, Weinholtz told the Deseret News the race "will require raising a lot of money to be competitive, and we'll do that. Whether we raise enough ultimately to pay me back, that remains to be seen."

In mid-April, before Weinholtz was nominated at the Democratic state convention as the party's candidate for governor, his campaign had nearly $568,000 on hand. Since then, he has reported raising about $1,160.

In the same time period, Herbert has reported raising nearly $603,000, and Johnson less than $48,000. The governor has said candidates who aren't wealthy need to rely on campaign contributions.

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