Ben Luján
House Speaker Ben Luján and Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya pushed for the use of public money to pave a church parking lot near Lujan’s home in Nambé, according to an e-mail from the county’s public works director.
A week ago that public works director, James Lujan, was placed on leave pending a law enforcement investigation into allegations of misuse of public money and materials that includes the paving of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church parking lot.
Today, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported on e-mails that implicate the speaker and Montoya – who’s also a Democratic candidate for land commissioner.
In response to an e-mail from Montoya asking about the paving of the parking lot – Montoya had received an inquiry from a constituent – James Lujan wrote this:
Harry Montoya
“If you recall at the ribbon cutting for the low water crossing on CR-84, we were asked by House Speaker Ben Lujan to place millings in the parking lot of the church. You were in agreement so I had the crew schedule it. I understand the they (sic) got to in the few working days. I believe the work is complete.”
Montoya told the newspaper the e-mail is accurate, saying the speaker “made the request” and he relies on staff to determine whether such a request is legal.
The newspaper reported that Ben Luján initially said he did not ask the county to pave the church lot, but he changed his story after being confronted with the e-mails.
“I saw them doing the job last week, and I thought it was very nice of the county. That is the extent of what I know. I did not ask them to go pave that parking lot at all,” The New Mexican reported the speaker as initially saying.
But after the e-mails came to light, Ben Luján said he had told someone to “look into maybe putting some (millings) in to that Nambé Church,” and he said he thought he had mentioned that to the newspaper the first time he was asked about the situation.
Ben Luján has been involved in local scandals like this before.