Mayor’s Wife Must Cover Bad Checks

The wife of Boise Mayor Brent Coles has been ordered to pay $2,100 in a state Small Claims Court action to cover checks she bounced.

The court order against Julie Coles included a bad check she wrote for a $635 money order to cover the family’s house payment.

Brent Coles said his wife of 21 years suffers from depression, which manifests itself in uncontrolled spending.

“She’ll cover things up and cover them up and actually block them out,” the mayor said. “She now has medication to help her, and we have a counselor to help our family.”

The couple has five children.

Julie Coles’ problem became apparent during Coles’ 1993 election campaign when it was disclosed that she was nearly $6,000 behind in the rent for her dance studio.

The mayor did not find out about that problem until he was informed his paycheck was being garnished.