Voters ask candidate not to run

COEUR d'ALENE - Five voters from Idaho legislative District 3 sent a letter to Republican state House candidate Jeff Ward to discourage him from continuing his campaign.

"It appears that you have serious personal and business financial problems owing the state of Idaho taxes in the estimated amount of $6,664.13 to date," according to the letter from Lorri Erickson, her husband John, and three others.

"Continued failure to manage personal and business affairs is a great concern for a legislative candidate and fails to gain the public trust," the letter said. "If you personally cannot follow the laws in Idaho, how could the voter trust you in an important role as legislator?"

The letter points to two outstanding personal income tax liens and four related to a political firm called The Strategery Group Inc.

A tax lien is a legal claim against a person's property to secure payment of taxes they owe. It can affect a person's ability to sell or buy property, and liens would be listed on a person's credit report.

Ward, who also happens to be the president of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans, had liens for $1,621 and $2,686 filed against him for unpaid personal income tax, Idaho State Tax Commission records confirmed.

Ward told The Press not paying the personal income taxes was a "stupid mistake."

"It was not a tax protest," he said. He said the debts were from 2006 and 2009, though the liens were filed in 2010.

He said he has been on a payment plan and now owes around $1,000 total.

"This is the first of a number of broadsides against me because I stood up to Rally Right," Ward said.

Lorri Erickson declined to say whether she is part of Bob Pedersen's conservative political group known as Rally Right. She acknowledged attending Rally Right meetings.

Multiple liens were filed against Strategery, but Ward said he was only a minor stockholder and had no management authority. Ward said those debts have been paid.

The business-related tax liens filed last year against Strategery were for $429, $644, $636, and $646.