Mayflower Resort under construction August, 2023. Photo: TownLift

Utah Senate campaign donations spark public debate

PARK CITY, Utah — In a recent exposé by The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and Sen. Jerry Stevenson, both board members of the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), are under scrutiny for receiving substantial donations linked to Gary Barnett, the developer behind the Mayflower Resort. This new information spotlights the potential influence of developer donations on legislative decisions.

The article reveals that over the past five years, Senate Republican leadership, notably Adams, has received $112,500 connected to Barnett. These donations raise questions and concerns among the Park City community and beyond about the integrity of decisions made by these lawmakers. Both Adams and Stevenson have firmly denied that these contributions have influenced their legislative actions or votes.

This situation with the Mayflower Resort underscores the complex relationship between development in Park City, political donations, and public trust.