When Cresent Hardy ran for Congress in 2015, he ran on a record of fiscal responsibility.
His opponent in that race was Niger Innis.
As Kyle Roerink, reporter for the Las Vegas Sun, put it in a recent story, Hardy “attacked Niger Innis, his Republican primary opponent in 2014” for a record of unpaid business taxes.
But a new story by Roerink says Hardy had been part of several businesses that were late in the payment of some $5 million in taxes and loans.
Roerink told KNPR's State of Nevada that a majority of those debts have been paid off. There is an outstanding debt for a company with which Hardy is no longer involved.
In a statement to the Sun, Hardy, who did not return KNPR's request for an interview, said he was a victim of the Great Recession and that "the small-business community know what it's like to take the risk and create jobs for others; it doesn't always work out.."
However, Roerink is not sure about that characterization.
"A lot of the liens came between 2002, 2003, 2004 that was during the good times that just draws to question that response," Roerink said.
Hardy will face a slate of Democrats for his Congressional seat next year. His business history is likely to come up as an issue.
Kyle Roerink, reporter, Las Vegas Sun
