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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Rep. Jim Ferrin is turning attention in the campaign from his sponsoring legislation advancing charter schools at the same time he finances and builds them to the finances of his Republican primary challenger, Orem City Councilman Stephen Sandstrom.
A $125,600 IRS tax lien filed was filed against Sandstrom in 2004, and he has had a series of small claims bills, default judgments and tax liens ranging from $15 to $15,000 and dating from 1991 to as recently as April.
The public records were compiled by Ferrin's supporters and confirmed by The Salt Lake Tribune, the newspaper said.
Sandstrom says all of the claims have been dismissed, paid, settled or will be paid off.
He accuses Ferrin of "desperation tactics" in the race for House District 58 leading to the June 27 primary.
"It doesn't paint a true picture," Sandstrom says. "It's so misleading and disingenuous. Anybody can sue anybody. It doesn't show which ones were dismissed, paid or settled."
Ferrin contends the documents reveal a pattern of irresponsibility.
"This is not newsworthy but for the fact that he wants to be a state lawmaker," Ferrin says. "There are basic rules of society that citizens expect their lawmakers to follow. When you have bills, you pay them. Go search the record all you want. You won't find this on me."
In 2002, Ferrin was late paying $968 in property taxes, the Tribune said.
Over the past two years, several contractor and tax liens were levied against one of the company's schools, Summit Academy in Draper, the paper said.
Ferrin said he had briefly pulled out of the business at the time those liens, ranging up to $62,000, were posted. Those liens have been settled.
Utah County Republican Chairwoman Marian Monnahan said, "We strongly urge that voters look at both candidates very carefully and make certain they have integrity -- look at their business dealings. We strongly urge them to look at that."
Sandstrom's difficulties began in 1992 when the state Tax Commission placed a lien against Sandstrom and his wife for $223 in unpaid income taxes. He said the lien was mistakenly placed and quickly resolved.
Successive small claims judgments, contractor liens, a speeding ticket he paid late and a defaulted loan for his architecture firm's office building followed, the Tribune said.
Several have been dismissed outright, settled or Sandstrom has paid the bills.
The most recent lien for $3,383 in unpaid IRS payroll taxes was filed April 20. Sandstrom said it is an IRS officer's mistake and will be removed from court records.
Sandstrom blames some of the legal problems on a bookkeeper he fired more than two years ago. He said the bookkeeper was responsible for calculating Sandstrom Architects' payroll taxes and paying the loan for the company's building. When those checks were not sent, she kept the notices of default to herself and he did not learn of the unpaid bills until the liens were filed, he said.
"It happens quite a bit," says Richard Petersen, Sandstrom's tax attorney.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
