Candidate claimed engineering degree in jury trial

by Hungry Horse News
| October 24, 2012 7:34 AM

Questions about interim Flathead County Commissioner Cal Scott’s education were raised again this week when the Daily Inter Lake reported that Scott claimed to have a civil engineering degree while testifying in a Flathead County District Court jury trial.

His testimony took place on April 16, the same day commissioners Dale Lauman and Pam Holmquist appointed him to fill the late Jim Dupont’s seat until the November election. Scott is now the Republican candidate for county commissioner for the north valley.

Scott was called to testify as a real estate professional in a civil suit brought by Dewey Cooper against Hilzac Corp. and others. One of the plaintiff’s attorneys, Kalispell mayor Tammi Fisher, asked Scott to testify at the trial.

In a resume sent to Fisher before the trial, Scott stated, “After service in the U.S. Army and college graduation, he entered the real estate business in 1968....”

While under oath during the trial, Scott responded to cross-examination by defense attorney Shelly Brander by suggesting he had a civil engineering degree from the University of Nevada-Reno.

Questions about Scott’s educational background were raised publicly by Democrats after the primary election.

When separately interviewed by the Daily Inter Lake and the Hungry Horse News before the June primary election, Scott had claimed to have a civil engineering degree from the University of Nevada-Reno. But he later told the Bigfork Eagle he had only associate degrees from various community colleges, and he later told the Daily Inter Lake that he doesn’t have any bachelor or associate degrees.

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan said any case against a county official alleging perjury would go to the Montana Attorney General’s Office after a complaint was filed with and investigated by the sheriff’s office and if he felt the case was warranted.

For his part, Scott told the Daily Inter Lake, “I accept the responsibility.... It is done. We all need to move on to take on the needs of the Flathead people.”