D
eveloper Lee Gientke has filed a defamation suit against Caldwell mayoral candidate Eric Phillips, alleging that Phillips made false claims about a $175,000 Urban Renewal Agency housing project and a bribery link to City Councilman Brad Doty. Gientke, managing partner of Pontifex Capital, says Phillips’ August letter to the Idaho Attorney General accused him of promising $165,000 to support Doty’s campaign in return for council approval of the project. The allegation stems from an August 18 council meeting where a resident reported that Gientke disclosed the supposed deal. Despite the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to deny the funding, the council approved it 4‑2. Phillips argues the timing indicates a quid pro quo, allowing Gientke to funnel private money to Doty. He also points to Leadership Idaho PAC, chaired by Gientke, as a source of campaign support for Doty, though the PAC’s website shows no contributions this year. Gientke claims Phillips’ statements are false, have damaged his personal and professional reputation, and seeks a retraction, damages, and a jury trial. In a live Caldwell debate, Phillips clarified that the complaint targets the developer, not his opponent, and that he filed it to prompt an investigation. Doty denied receiving any money from Gientke and stated he has no intention of doing so. A criminal investigator from the Attorney General’s office will meet with Phillips on September 17 to review the complaint. The lawsuit seeks compensation for alleged harm and a formal retraction of Phillips’ allegations. The case underscores the contentious intersection of local politics, development funding, and campaign finance claims in Caldwell.