OpenCDA

April 2, 2014

Doing It the Right Way

Filed under: Probable Cause — Bill @ 3:48 pm

StevenDMatheson copyIn our post on October 18, 2013, titled Steve Widmyer: Not Suitable for Mayor we were justifiably critical of Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer for authorizing print and online campaign literature which misrepresented that in 2013 he was  a CPA, a certified public accountant.  His license had, in fact, lapsed in 1995.  The Idaho State Board of Accountancy and Idaho statutes forbid such misrepresentation of the license.

So it is understandable that when the Coeur d’Alene Press ran a story about Kootenai County Treasurer candidate Steven D. Matheson on March 20, 2014, and the Press story included the statement, “He is also a certified public accountant,” we wondered if we had another poseur.

We don’t.

Mr. Matheson’s business website clearly and accurately stated then and now that he is an inactive CPA.  And just as important, Mr. Matheson’s campaign website states “CPA (inactive, WA).”

In our view, there is nothing wrong with a formerly licensed CPA using that information in business and campaign literature as long as the presentation conforms to the requirements in The Idaho Accountancy Act (Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 2), specifically in I.C. 54.220.  The law does not forbid an inactive or lapsed CPA from using words that tend to indicate he was a CPA; it forbids him from using words that tend to indicate he is a licensed CPA.  Words such as “inactive” or “lapsed” clearly indicate former rather than currently valid licensure.

We’re pleased that Mr. Matheson did it the right way.

2 Comments

  1. Hi Bill, good post. I’ve talked with Steve Matheson several times and find him to be a pleasant respectful, intelligent, motivated person. I’m very glad he’s offering his time and talent to this Treasurer’s race.

    Lori Thomas is a very nice person. I like her. But we have to get away from the old tradition of “So-and-so is a good person and I’ve known them for many years”, so I’m going to vote for her. As a candidate myself, (I’m running for Idaho Senate, Dist. 4) I don’t want anyone to vote for me just because they know me. I want them to vote for me because they believe I would do the best job for the people of Dist. 4 (CdA).

    Steve Matheson is highly qualified to be Treasurer, and the taxpayers of Kootenai County need that! Please be careful to learn about all the candidates and compare their backgrounds and qualifications.

    Thank you! –Mary Souza

    Comment by mary — April 3, 2014 @ 6:55 pm

  2. Mary,

    Thanks for the comment.

    Unfortunately the very qualities that would make Steve Matheson an outstanding County Treasurer are also the very qualities that some people fear. If they want a Treasurer who will be manipulable, who will succumb to social, political, and economic pressure from those less-than-honest “leaders” in the community, then they will do everything in their power to make sure Matheson does not get elected. The last thing dishonest people want in a position of public trust and responsibility is someone who is honest, fully qualified, intelligent, educated, and articulate. That’s exactly what Kootenai County needs. Kootenai County can no longer afford a “good enough for the 1960’s” mindset in any of its elected and appointed offices. The same applies to the entire state.

    Comment by Bill — April 4, 2014 @ 6:35 am

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