Countywide : Candidate Criticized Over Tax Payments

Rep. Bob Largomarsino (R-Ventura) took a swipe at his Republican challenger on Friday, claiming millionaire businessman Michael Huffington failed to pay California state income taxes despite public statements that he has made his home in Montecito since 1988.

In a letter to Huffington, Largomarsino wrote: “It is . . . very disturbing to me that while you tell the public you have lived in Montecito since 1988, it has been reported that you did not begin paying California income taxes until last year.”

Largomarsino’s campaign manager Matt Reynolds added that Huffington had been working in Texas with the family oil and gas company until 1991, with Houston as his permanent residence. “Texas has no state income tax, which is no doubt personally beneficial to someone of Huffington’s great wealth,” Reynolds said.

But an aide of Huffington called Largomarsino’s criticism a “silly charge. “Michael bought his home in Santa Barbara in 1988 and has been paying property taxes on it since then,” said Sandy Bodner, campaign spokeswoman. “We think his opponents are groping at a non-issue.”