Former staffer accuses Democratic treasurer candidate of falsely reporting contributions

The former chief fundraiser for the Democrats’ candidate for state treasurer has accused the candidate of filing false campaign contribution reports, according to the Albuquerque Tribune.

James B. Lewis and the Democratic Party say it isn’t true. The secretary of state is investigating.

Rosetta Stewart has accused Lewis in a notarized affidavit of inaccurately reporting campaign contributions on several occasions, according to the newspaper. The claims are that Lewis:

• told Stewart a $500 contribution given by an unnamed man would be made to “look like his son La Ron Lewis contributed it,” according to the Tribune.

• told her it was OK to accept money even if people didn’t want their names tied to their gifts, and “he would handle the rest.”

Stewart is a registered Republican, the Tribune reported. When asked why she went to the party with her allegations, according to the newspaper, she said, “There’s no real particular reason.”

She said she does not work for Lewis’ opponent, Republican Demesia Padilla, but “just wanted to come forward because I do not want the people of the State of New Mexico to be deceived any longer.”

It was the Republican Party that asked the secretary of state to investigate. The party has also asked for an attorney general investigation. A secretary of state spokesman told the Tribune that, if there is any merit to the claims, the case will be turned over to the attorney general.

In the affidavit, according to the newspaper, Stewart said she “resigned because of (Lewis’) lack of honesty and integrity.”

The Tribune reported that La Ron Lewis is listed on a report as giving his father $500. James Lewis said that’s because his son donated the money.

Stewart also claimed that, earlier this year, she and Lewis met with an unidentified couple. The couple agreed to donate $2,500, according to the affidavit, “but for some reason didn’t want their names mentioned,” the Tribune reported.

“James Lewis told them that he knew how to go around it, and that he would make sure that their contribution would be under Lee Griffin’s name,” the affidavit states. Griffin gave $2,500 on Feb. 13 and $1,500 on Aug. 10, according to Lewis’ finance report.

Lewis told the newspaper he and Griffin are longtime friends. He said he didn’t stay for dinner with Stewart and the unidentified couple, and couldn’t say whether they actually donated to his campaign. He said it’s common for Griffin to raise cash for his campaigns by encouraging others to donate.

Griffin denied the allegation made by Stewart.

“Everything I contributed came from me,” he told the newspaper.