Phil Lyman shares claims Cox campaign paid unrelated Lyman candidates to run

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — Phil Lyman is running as a write-in candidate for Utah governor after Gov. Cox beat him in the primary — but he’s not the only Lyman who has filed to run as a write-in.

Richard Lyman and Carol Lyman are also running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, as unaffiliated write-in candidates. Richard is the son and Carol is the mother — and they are not related to Phil Lyman.

Phil Lyman is accusing Spencer Cox’s campaign of paying Richard and Carol Lyman to join the race and confuse voters. The Cox campaign has denied any role in this.

Phil Lyman has a habit of making accusations that are blatantly false. This is no exception. Phil should go back to filming ads to help his cousin and liberal Democrat Brian King.”

Matt Lusty, Cox campaign spokesperson

Phil Lyman posted on social media , showing text messages from a man named James, who claimed that he worked with Richard Lyman. James claimed Richard Lyman was offered a steak dinner and $1,000 by the Cox campaign to run as a write-in candidate.

ABC4.com tracked down James Newson and asked him if Richard Lyman told him those things that would implicate the Cox campaign.

Newson said yes.

“I sent a message to my wife, telling her what had just gone on, ’cause, you know, she’s into politics, I’m not so much,” Newson said. “She said, ‘I’m gonna send this to Phil Lyman.'”

Newson said he texted Richard Lyman to warn him that he might be doing something illegal. Newson said Richard Lyman seemed to be backtracking and distancing himself from the Cox allegations.

ABC4.com was not able to get ahold of Richard Lyman, but was able to get a statement from his mother and running mate Carol Lyman:

Governor Cox’s campaign is not paying us. I (Carol) actually paid the fees for both of us. Period. We’re running to make a statement. People keep asking if we’re related to Phil Lyman and last Sunday someone asked and it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’ve always been proud of my name and the negativity of his campaign is causing me real embarrassment. Richard and I talked about it and decided to run so that we had a candidate we could feel good about voting for because we don’t feel good about voting for Cox or Phil Lyman.

Carol Lyman, unaffiliated write-in candidate for Lt. Gov.

Phil Lyman claimed this was a move by the Cox campaign to confuse voters — the Cox campaign denied that claim.

The other Lymans said they don’t like Cox or Phil Lyman. James said he was concerned about wrongdoing and felt a duty to report his conversation with Richard Lyman.

ABC4.com will continue to look into this situation.

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