43
Letson may be home soon
Photo
State Rep. Thomas Letson of Warren, D-64th
WARREN
State Rep. Tom Letson of Warren, D-64th, was admitted several weeks ago to a medical facility to be treated for alcohol addiction.
“We’re hopeful to have him home by next week,” Letson’s brother, Atty. Dan Letson, said Monday, adding that he and other family members encouraged him to seek treatment. He didn’t say where the treatment is being done.
“We knew that this was the best decision to help him deal with the struggle with alcohol,” Dan Letson said.
Tom Letson was first elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2006 by defeating incumbent Republican Randy Law of Warren.
He has been re-elected twice since then, including last November, when he defeated Republican Albert J. Haberstroh Jr. of Southington.
The Internal Revenue Service filed a notice of federal tax lien against Tom Letson in the Trumbull County recorder’s office Dec. 28, stating that Letson owes $37,427 as a result of an IRS assessment levied against him June 1, 2009.
The lien notice said the $37,417 is for taxes and possibly interest and penalties. It says the assessment is related to a 1040 tax return for 2006, but it gives no further information as to the reason for the assessment.
The IRS website says a notice of federal tax lien is filed after the IRS sends a taxpayer notice and demand for payment and the payment is not fully made within 10 days.
The notice publicly tells creditors that the IRS has a claim against the taxpayer’s property. The notice also is used by courts to establish priority in certain situations, such as bankruptcy proceedings and real-estate sales, the website says.
The lien attaches to all property, such as the taxpayer’s house or car and to all rights to property, such as accounts receivable of a business, the website says.
Meanwhile, Tom Letson, 59, also got behind on the property taxes on his home on Tod Avenue Northwest, failing to pay the $940 that was due on Aug. 5, 2010, on his first-half taxes, which resulted in a 10 percent late penalty and interest totaling $104.
However, on Thursday, a payment of $1,044 was made on the arrearage, bringing his payments current.
Tom Letson attended the Jan. 3 swearing-in ceremony for members for the new General Assembly in Columbus and informed the Speaker of the House, William G. Batchelder of Medina, R-69th, of his plans to seek alcohol treatment, Dan Letson said.
“His colleagues [in the House of Representatives] have been supportive to a fault,” Dan Letson said.
The 64th District includes Warren, Warren Township, Cortland, Champion, Howland, Braceville, Bristol, Mecca, Southington, West Farmington, Farmington and parts of Bazetta and Fowler.