Bank receives loan judgment

SANDPOINT — A local City Council member who defaulted on his student loan owes Wells Fargo Bank $12,469.21.

The case against Justin W. Schuck, filed in February, alleged the council member defaulted on a loan he received approximately four years ago.

The case closed last month with a judgment against Schuck, who did not contest the case.

Schuck, a local builder in addition to being a member of the Sandpoint City Council, said the default was a result of poor timing and a bad economy.

He was working in the construction trades and paying off the loan when his employer Sullivan Homes Idaho, went out of business, leaving him unemployed for more than a year.

“At that time, in that situation, I had to make a choice to make my mortgage payment or pay my student loans,” Schuck said. “I chose to keep my house.”

Schuck said he chose not to take advantage of the federal help programs available for people in his situation.

“I don’t feel it is fair to spread my student loans over the American taxpayer,” he said.

He called the situation sad and embarrassing, but said he was back on track, employed, and able to attend to his debts.

“I plan to pay them back as soon as possible, and I have discussed that with the lenders,” he said.

Schuck joined the ranks of new faces on City Council this year by narrowly defeating incumbent John O’Hara in November for the four-year council seat.