An Athens city auditor candidate has been delinquent in paying property taxes five times over the last seven years.

David Ransom, a Democrat, paid his property taxes late in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998. This year he paid on time.

Ransom said he missed the tax deadlines because he did not have the money in time. He said he was not trying to avoid paying the taxes, and that when he had the finances to pay his taxes and the late fee, he did so without complaint

"It's hard to say what bill gets paid today and what bill tomorrow," he said.

Raising four children and working through times when he had a limited means of income made deciding which bill to pay difficult, Ransom explained.

The delinquent taxes should not be an issue in the auditor election, Ransom said.

Jimmy Stewart, current city auditor and Ransom's opponent, declined, out of fairness, to comment on the issue of Ransom's delinquent property taxes.

The city auditor's job includes keeping track of the city's 40 or 50 different accounts and transactions. The auditor makes recommendations to city administrators and city council members concerning the funding of city projects and the revenues the city receives.

The auditor also must work with the residents on issues they would like to have placed on a ballot.

Records show Stewart has not paid property taxes late.