He’s no longer an average Joe
![photo - "Joe the Plumber” walks to a neighbor’s home followed by reporters in Holland, Ohio, on Thursday. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher’s nickname was bestowed on him by presidential candidate John McCain during Wednesday’s debate.AP Photo <strong></strong>](http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/w620-57b392eb8cb3c5f9c96b477f3943e90a.jpg ""Joe the Plumber” walks to a neighbor’s home followed by reporters in Holland, Ohio, on Thursday. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher’s nickname was bestowed on him by presidential candidate John McCain during Wednesday’s debate.AP Photo <strong></strong>")
"Joe the Plumber” walks to a neighbor’s home followed by reporters in Holland, Ohio, on Thursday. Samuel J. Wurzelbacher’s nickname was bestowed on him by presidential candidate John McCain during Wednesday’s debate.AP Photo
HOLLAND, Ohio — America’s most famous plumber says he’s flabbergasted by all the attention coming his way after the final presidential debate.
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LICENSING ISSUE
Joe the Plumber’s story sprang a few leaks Thursday.
Turns out he isn’t actually a licensed plumber.
The burly, bald man acknowledged he doesn’t have a plumber’s license, but said he didn’t need one because he works for someone else at a company that does residential work. But Samuel J. Wurzelbacher still would need to be a licensed apprentice or journeyman to work in Toledo, and he’s not, said David Golis, manager and residential building official for the Toledo Division of Building Inspection.
State and local records show he has no license, although his employer does. Golis said there are no records of inspectors citing him for unlicensed work in Toledo.
He owes taxes
Then there was the matter of his taxes.
Wurzelbacher owes the state of Ohio $1,182.98 in personal income tax, according to Lucas County Court of Common Pleas records. In January 2007, Ohio’s Department of Taxation filed a claim on his property until he pays the debt, according to the tax records.
The lien remains active, records show.
Fact CHECK
OKLAHOMA’S OWN JOE
In the Oklahoma City AT&T Yellow Pages, the plumbing category lists Oklahoma City’s own Joe the Plumber. His listing is identified only with a post office box and a phone number. An answering machine identifies itself as "Joe the Plumber,” and says, "This is the only way to get hold of me.”
We wanted to ask Oklahoma City’s Joe how business is and how he felt about raising taxes, and whom he was going to vote for, but he didn’t immediately return our messages.
A clue to Oklahoma City Joe’s business plan may be found in a review on an online business listing. A note from a customer from 2005 reads, "The plumber’s prices and work are very good. But getting him to get to your project is tough. His business is a one-man shop, so you might have to wait if it is not an emergency.”
Ann DeFrange, Staff Writer
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