Anonymous fax stirs up House race in Orem

OREM — Two politicians vying for an Orem House seat say they want to focus on issues and ideas, but it is difficult with mudslinging political tactics going on in the periphery.

IRS documents outlining federal tax liens against Orem City Councilman Stephen Sandstrom, who is challenging Rep. Jim Ferrin in the primary to be the Republican candidate on the general election ballot for House District 58, were distributed anonymously this week.

The Deseret Morning News received a copy this week, as well.

The lien is a government-imposed restriction against Sandstrom's architectural firm for almost $130,000 in unpaid income taxes.

Taken out of context, the documents look worse than they are, said Sandstrom's campaign manager, Sherrie Hall-Everett.

From 2000 to 2002 an employee in Sandstrom's firm was inaccurately filing the company's tax returns. Sandstrom said he didn't realize what was happening and eventually fired the employee.

"It wasn't until probably a couple years after that that I started getting notices," Sandstrom said. "It hit me like a ton of bricks. All of a sudden, here it is that I owe all this money."

After deciding the issue was too big to handle on his own, he hired a law firm to help him get the issue resolved and ensure he was paying all that he legitimately owed.

"It's something that has been resolved," Sandstrom said. "We negotiated a settlement with the IRS, funds are being paid right now through an installment plan. As far as I'm concerned, (it's resolved)."

Sandstrom said he has paid back almost half of the amount.

Concerned that this was going to be the start of negative campaigning, Sandstrom said he sent a letter to Ferrin, explaining the situation and asking that the candidates focus on the issues.

"It just shows the state of Utah County politics," Sandstrom said of the anonymous faxes. "I'm just really disappointed that Jim would allow something like this to come out. I want to stick to the issues. I know he's been taking a lot of heat in the press lately, but that hasn't been me doing it. It appears to me ... he's trying to deflect the criticism of him by coming up with something on me."