But such is the case for Gov. Chet Culver, as he had to make a point of saying he, and not the taxpayers, will be paying for his trip to Tampa to support the Iowa Hawkeye football team when they take on South Carolina in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.

“I’m paying, it’s not state,” Culver said [Monday]. “I’m staying at a hotel with the University of Iowa people and I’m paying for that, too. Won’t be using any other place to stay down there.”

Culver has been criticized several times in the past for staying at the million-dollar Florida penthouse of his biggest campaign contributor, Des Moines real estate developer Bill Knapp. While he said he always paid for his family’s stay at Knapp’s condominium, there were questions whether he paid market value.

Knapp served as co-chair of Culver’s 2006 bid for governor and donated more than $110,000 to the campaign. He has since given $25,000 to Culver’s 2010 re-election campaign. While staying at the home (and paying nearly $2,000 less than market value for it) is not illegal, it does tip toe toward the appearance of impropriety. Iowa law says public officials in Iowa should be “extremely cautious” about accepting gratuities or favors from anyone who has an interest in the legislative or political actions of that official.

Few would argue that Knapp qualifies as someone with an interest in legislative actions.

But a new year offers the chance of a new beginning, and Culver is apparently eager to put even the hint of bad behavior behind him.

Culver also stayed at Knapp’s Florida condo for a week during the 2008 legislative session.

Knapp has said Culver pays him $1,000 a week when staying at the condo.

A penthouse condo in that area would normally rent for at least $2,700 per week, plus 11 percent tax, according to Ronnalyn Crain, owner of Seaside Resort Rentals & Management.

Iowa law says public officials in Iowa should be “extremely cautious” about accepting gratuities or favors from anyone who has an interest in the legislative or political actions of that official.

“Even where there is a genuine personal friendship, the acceptance of personal benefits from those who could gain advantage by influencing official actions raises suspicions that tend to undermine the public trust,” the law states.

In addition to serving as co-chair of Culver’s 2006 bid for governor, Knapp also donated more than $110,000 to the campaign. He has since given $25,000 to Culver’s 2010 re-election campaign. A spokesman for Culver said Knap is “a longtime family friend of nearly 40 years” and the arrangement is legal because the governor is paying for use of the condo.

Kauffman found out the governor was in Florida while seeking comment on a story about deaths at a state-run nursing home called Glenwood Resource Center.

[Culver Communications Director Phil] Roeder told the Register the governor’s schedule “ended up getting away from him” and so he had no time to talk to a reporter about Glenwood.

When asked whether the governor was in Iowa, Roeder said he was not. Asked where the governor was, Roeder said, “I’m not sure where they went off to.”

Roeder issued a statement about the governor’s trip after the paper made a formal request for Culver’s travel records.