Legislator denies misuse of funds

Associated Press

Updated: May 17, 2012 3:14 PM

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A Farmington legislator is denying using political contributions to rent a condo even though the funds came from a campaign finance account.

Republican state Sen. William Sharer told The Farmington Daily Times (http://bit.ly/KbqMvR ) Wednesday that he put a daily stipend all legislators get during session into his campaign account.

The lawmaker says money he withdrew to pay for housing in Santa Fe never exceeded what he put in from his allowance.

According to state campaign finance law, legislators cannot use campaign funds for personal and legislative session living expenses.

The state Attorney General's office says nobody has filed a formal complaint against Sharer.

ProgressNow New Mexico, a nonprofit political watchdog group, says Sharer should set a better example as a veteran lawmaker.

Sharer says his actions were an honest mistake.

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