‘Libelous accusations’: Boise developer sues Caldwell mayoral candidate
A Boise-based developer is suing a Caldwell mayoral candidate over accusations that led the Idaho Attorney General’s Office to open a corruption investigation.
Lee Gientke, the founder and managing partner at Pontifex Capital, a private equity firm that develops and manages real estate, filed a legal complaint in 3rd District Court in Canyon County on Wednesday against Eric Phillips, a candidate for mayor who is the former director of student safety and emergency operations at the Caldwell School District.
The defamation lawsuit accuses Phillips of making false statements to “garner attention for himself and attack his political opponent” in the Tuesday, Nov. 4, election. It says the statements caused significant harm to Gientke’s personal and professional reputation, and it seeks a jury trial and reimbursement for attorney fees. The suit also retains the right to ask for punitive damages.
The Idaho Statesman reported Tuesday that the AG’s office said it was investigating a complaint submitted by Phillips that alleged a possible quid pro quo between Gientke and Brad Doty, president of the Caldwell City Council and a candidate for mayor. Both men denied the accusation, and Gientke said Tuesday that he had not been contacted by state investigators.
“Our office takes all allegations of corruption seriously and is investigating the matter,” AG’s office spokesman Damon Sidur said in a September email. “We will not comment further as it is an active investigation.”
Sidur said last week that the investigation was ongoing.
Phillips said he raised concerns after hearing a community member allege during a City Council meeting on Aug. 18 that Gientke — who was seeking approval that night for $175,000 in Urban Renewal Agency funds for a housing project — told people he was committing money, “rumored to be $165,000,” to Doty’s mayoral campaign.
Phillips said he saw one of Doty’s campaign signs on Gientke’s lot at the corner of North 5th Avenue and East Chicago Street.
Gientke has not donated to Doty’s bid for mayor, according to the state’s campaign-finance records. He is chairman of Leadership Idaho LLC, a political action committee registered on Oct. 2, but that group has made no campaign contributions.
Gientke told the Statesman in a phone interview that the Urban Renewal Agency funds for his project in downtown Caldwell would be disbursed annually over the next 15 years, and used to improve public safety around the lot by redoing and widening sidewalks, and adding light posts. He said he expects the first reimbursement payment in 18 to 24 months.
“I will not let these false, defamatory and libelous accusations prevent me from supporting candidates around the state who support a pro-business, pro-growth agenda,” Gientke said in a news release Thursday. “Mr. Phillips should be on notice that I will seek all legal remedies to defend and repair my reputation from their baseless attacks.”
Phillips told the Statesman that he was not aware of the lawsuit, and he said all legal questions would have to go through his attorney.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM.
