Associated Press FIle Photo

While the Republican candidate in Tuesday’s 12th State House District special election has run heavily on lowering taxes and fiscal responsibility in government, critics have raised alarm over the recent discovery of tax liens associated with a business of his.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, a business tied to the candidate, Scott Timko, owes over $42,000 in unpaid taxes, some dating back five years.

The company, a limited liability company called “GotGumbo, LLC,” has three liens against it, according to the state — two from 2021 and one from January 2026.

The LLC can be tied back to Timko. According to campaign finance reports from past primary elections Timko ran in, individual contributions made by Timko list the LLC as his employer.

The tax liens came to light in a Thursday, Aug. 13 article in the American Journal News, a publication owned by “True Blue Media.” It was written by Jesse Valentine, a former political operative based in North Carolina and has been shared across social media.

Timko claimed the liens appearing on the state website are the result of an administrative error and that he expects the issue to be resolved.

He also labeled the revelation as an attempt by Democrats to “distract voters” from what he called extreme views held by his opponent, Brandon Dukes.

“Our campaign is aware of many last-minute, desperate attempts from the Democrat attack machine hoping to distract voters and hide the extreme views of my opponent. I believe that the Democrats’ attacks you referenced will be tied to a state administrative error that will be resolved after conferring with the appropriate offices,” Timko said in a statement to the Eagle.

“I remain focused on our community to make life more affordable, cut taxes and supporting public safety in clear contrast to my extreme, liberal opponent,” he said.

Dukes is among those on social media who have used the article to criticize Timko over concerns of how he would handle taxpayer money.

“My opponent is somebody who’s running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and as a fiscal conservative, and he wants to manage taxpayer dollars in Harrisburg. But by the look of it, he can’t even manage his own,” Dukes told the Eagle. “He wants to focus on calling me extremist, but I’m focusing on fixing our roads here, lowering cost of living and trying to make a better life for people of Butler County.”

As the special election campaign winds down, the two candidates have gone on the offensive, receiving help from their state parties and campaign arms, while increasing visibility through advertising and on-the-ground campaigning.

Both candidates have increased advertising, with their own campaign ads appearing in print and on television.

Rhetoric has become more aggressive. In an ad in the Butler Eagle’s Sunday, Aug. 16 addition, Timko made a range of accusations against Dukes and his views. These included “Wants our police put in harm’s way,” “Opposes benefits for families of first responders who die from job-related cancer” and “Would allow men in girls’ sports, girls’ bathrooms and girls’ locker rooms.”

Dukes called Timko’s campaign messaging “a distraction.”

“That is very bizarre. I have nothing but the utmost respect for law enforcement. I have family members who are law enforcement and I have friends who are law enforcement. Cranberry and the district has one of the lowest crime rates,” Dukes said. “It’s because of our police and the men and women in uniform.”