Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon gubernatorial candidate Bill Sizemore pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three charges of tax evasion.

The conservative initiative activist entered the plea in a Salem courtroom.

Sizemore and his wife were charged last month with failing to file three years' worth of state tax returns.

Sizemore is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

No trial date has been set, but he hopes there's a verdict before voters get their ballots in May.

BIll Sizemore: "I would hope that it will be done before the primary because that's a cloud that I would like to have removed."

Sizemore will represent himself. His wife, Cindy, sought a court-appointed attorney but the request was turned down.

A Marion County judge said the Sizemores are too well-off to qualify.

The two will next appear before a judge for a status hearing January 26th.    Coincidentally, that's the same day Oregon voters decide on a pair of tax increases.