Candidate for treasurer

Name: James B. Lewis, Democrat

Age: 58

Campaign Web site address: www.jamesblewis.net

Occupation: Retired chief administrative officer, city of Albuquerque

Family: Widower with four adult children.

Education:

Chief of staff certificate, Duke University

Minority leadership certificate, University of Virginia

Master's degree in public administration, University of New Mexico

Bachelor's degree in education, Bishop College/ Dallas, Texas (teaching certificate)

Bachelor's and associate's degrees in business administration, National College of Business

New Mexico real estate broker's license (current)

Please list the experience you think would make you a good state treasurer.

Professionally trained and experienced public administrator with over 30 years of experience in city, county, state and federal government

The only candidate running for state treasurer that has been elected to two terms as county treasurer and appointed/ elected as New Mexico state treasurer

The only candidate who has experience serving as the banker for the state of New Mexico

The only candidate pursuing the office of state treasurer who has served on the state Board of Finance, State Investment Council, Public Employees Retirement Association, Education Retirement Association, New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. Most of these operations manage multi-billion dollar portfolios.

The only candidate with a proven track record of getting legislation passed in the New Mexico state Legislature.

The only candidate running for state treasurer with a proven track record managing a $3 billion to $4 billion portfolio.

The only candidate for state treasurer with experience managing a municipal agency with 6,500 employees, State agencies with over 18,000 employees, and a federal agency with 140,000 employees

Law enforcement experience from serving as a criminal investigator, specializing in white collar crimes (Bernalillo County District Attorney's office) and as a military police in the U.S. Army.

I am the only candidate running for the office of state treasurer that has been appointed by mayors, governors, and a president of the United States, as well as, other elected officials to manage, troubleshoot, and turn around troubled and/ or problem agencies. In addition, I have a proven track record of providing leadership and restoring integrity to the New Mexico state Treasurer's Office. I am convinced that all of the aforementioned experience, education and training will make me an outstanding state treasurer.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor? If yes, explain.

No.

What's the best meal you can cook from scratch?

Spaghetti with soul

Last book you read:

"Between Worlds" by Bill Richardson

What was your biggest mistake in life and what lesson did you learn?

The biggest mistake I made was as a graduating high school senior not believing that I could go to college, get a degree and become successful. Being a first-generation college student was frightening. I learned from friends like Joe Powdrell, who conveyed to me that if I could conceive it and believe it, then I could achieve it. This was a big lesson learned. I now believe in me and have high self esteem, as well as, high self actualization.

Do you believe the state had a chance to stop alleged corruption in the Treasurer's Office before the federal government did?

Yes. Had the public looked closer at the people elected to this office and qualified them better, this debacle might have been avoided. I believe that the state auditor and the external auditors should have been able to discover and address the corruption going on in the state Treasurer's Office. In addition, I believe the state Board of Finance should have been able to uncover said violations and possibly, the state Legislature through the oversight and budget process. Any malfeasance or misconduct in public office must be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency and prosecuted to the fullest extent.

If so, where along the way could the alleged wrongdoing have been stopped?

Along the way, an appropriate level of external membership might have been instrumental in preventing, detecting, correcting, and/or disclosing violations of the law.

What changes in state law could further strengthen the integrity of the office and what specific reforms would you support?

The following changes in state law could help to strengthen the Treasurer's Office:

Defining legal securities that the treasurer can invest.

Requiring the external auditors to be rotated every three via the bid process.

Stipulate the procurement process for broker/dealers.

Allow the treasurer the flexibility to hire personnel with the professional expertise needed in treasury and compensate them accordingly.

If elected, what would you do to help the public understand what the Treasurer's Office does?

If elected, I will hold town hall meetings to explain the role and responsibility of the state treasurer. I will meet with local elected/ appointed officials (mayors, councilors, managers, commissioners, municipal league officials, Association of Counties, Bankers Association, community groups, universities, colleges, etc.). I have experience working with these group/ individuals.

What is the most important financial policy matter facing the state?

The most important policy matters facing the state include:

Maintaining the state's bond rating.

Restoring trust and confidence in the state Treasurer's Office.

Preserving capital in the state portfolio with asset allocation that is safe, liquid, and provides a reasonable return on investments.

What are your priorities if elected?

My priority as state treasurer is to:

Comply with Prudent Person Rule.

Codify all audits that have been done on the state Treasurer's Office over the last two to four years.

Review all policy recommendations made by the state Board of Finance.

Review and enhance the Local Government Investment Pool.

Appoint an independent "Blue Ribbon Committee" to review the audits and policies and provide recommendations.

Evaluate the expertise of all personnel in the state treasury.

Review and evaluate the state treasurer's budget, office, procurement process, legislative relations, public concerns, and the relationship with other State Government Agencies, as well as, the relationship with the local government.

Review "best practices" from other states.

Review the office physical security policy and procedures.

Review and evaluate the fiscal agent contract.

Review the investment process and procedures and make necessary and appropriate changes, as needed.

Review and change the office code of conduct, as needed.

Establish a comprehensive whistle blower procedure.

Require ethics training for all treasury employees.

Have a comprehensive sweep of the treasury before I take the keys.

Enhance communication, collaboration, and cooperation with internal and external customers.

What major state investment policy changes would you make if any?

Major investment policy changes will include:

Communicating the nature of legal investments and ensuring that I have professional, qualified personnel to handle the investment portfolio.

Make sure we are following the broker/ dealer procurement process.

Work closely with the state treasurer's Investment Committee, the Board of Finance, and comply with federal and state constitutional law impacting investments.

Does the Treasurer's Office have enough oversight? If not, what specific steps would you take to improve it?

I believe the Treasurer's Office has enough oversight with the Board of Finance, state auditor, external auditor, state Legislature, and the law enforcement entities such as the Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney's Office, where needed. Enforcement needs to take place if the laws are violated - no exceptions.

Critique the job Doug Brown has done as treasurer since Gov. Bill Richardson appointed him to the post a year ago.

I believe Doug Brown is doing an excellent job as interim state treasurer. While in office, he has:

Implemented many of the audit findings.

Established a code of conduct (Good).

Changed the procedures for investing the Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP), while increasing the rate of return. This gives local government the confidence to invest in this pool.

Terminated employees that were incompetent (Good).

Changed Fiscal Agent Banks (Good).

Implemented competitive bidding for securities with broker/ dealers to get the best deal (Good).

Uncovered a rogue spying scandal (Good).

Enhanced communication with staff, public, and the Board of Finance (Good).

Enhanced the public trust with his professionalism (Good).

Recommended that the treasurer be appointed rather than elected. However, I do not believe there is any greater honor than being elected by the citizens of the great state of New Mexico. I do not have a problem with the voters (citizens) of this State deciding whether they want an elected or appointed State Treasurer.

Overall, I believe Doug Brown is exemplifying the utmost professionalism with enthusiasm, and doing a good job.