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Tax tardiness widespread among candidates of both parties

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Several candidates currently seeking election to various positions in the state of Missouri have been late in paying their taxes.

The financials of Republican candidate for state auditor are again under scrutiny, this time for an unpaid tax bill. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Saundra McDowell’s husband is listed as owing $1,484 in personal property taxes, fines and fees dating to 2012 when the couple lived in Kansas City.

Greene County records show the McDowells paid their 2013 personal property tax bill on January 30, 2018. The $633 bill included a $300 late fee.

But McDowell is far from the only person running for elected office to be tardy paying taxes. Three Democrats running for the Missouri House have collectively been tardy more than a dozen times.

Rob Bailey, candidate for Missouri’s 135th House District, has been late twice in paying his personal property taxes in Greene County. He paid his 2014 personal property taxes 147 days late and his 2016 personal property taxes 30 days late.

Brady O’Dell, candidate for Missouri’s 11th House District, has been late five times on his personal property taxes in Buchanan County. He was 96 days late in paying his 2008 personal property taxes, 538 days late in paying his 2011 personal property taxes, 172 days late in paying his 2012 personal property taxes, 157 days late in paying his 2013 personal property taxes, and 39 days in paying his 2017 personal property taxes.

Travis Hagewood, candidate for Missouri’s 31th House District, has been late six times paying his property taxes. He was 19 days late in paying his 2012 personal property taxes, 57 days late in paying his 2013 personal property taxes, 72 days late in paying his 2014 personal property taxes, 246 days late in paying his 2015 personal property taxes, 405 days late in paying his 2016 personal property taxes, and, on a joint account with his wife, 251 days late in paying their 2017 personal property taxes.