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Auditor, PRC chair both say resign

Associated Press

Updated: Jan 27, 2012 9:39 AM

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — State Auditor Hector Balderas and Public Regulation Commission Chairman Pat Lyons traded calls for each other's resignation Thursday after Balderas released an audit that backs up recent allegations of widespread misconduct at the troubled commission, including email exchanges that appear to be about illegal drug use.

The audit accuses Lyons of using a taxpayer-purchased truck for personal travel to and from his ranch. It also alleges other commissioners took state vehicles out of the state without authorization and that dozens of PRC employees made $28,000 in prohibited purchases of premium gas since 2009.

In a press release, Balderas said the audit shows problems extended beyond that of former Commissioner Jerome Block, who resigned last year after pleading guilty to felony embezzlement and other charges.

"Even after the discovery of Block's conduct, Chairman Lyons continued to abuse taxpayer resources by driving a truck for a federal pipeline safety program back and forth to his private ranch," Balderas said. "Meaningful reform can only occur when the commission's leadership is not complicit in the misuse of taxpayer dollars. Chairman Lyons is part of the problem, and he should reimburse the taxpayers."

In response, the Republican Lyons called on Balderas to resign, saying he was "bloating" the findings of the audit to advance his Democratic bid for the U.S. Senate.

"That's just him trying to get press from you guys," he said. "The biggest problem is you got an attorney trying to do an auditor's job."

Lyons says he is at the forefront of efforts to reform the commission, which have drawn legislative attention in light of recent scandals that include the conviction of Block. As part of a plea deal, Block agreed to seek treatment for what he said was an addiction to pain pills. But the agreement was revoked and he awaits sentencing after being kicked out of the drug program.

Balderas said Thursday that as part of his office's probe of the PRC, it found email between a commissioner and an employee that appeared to reference drug deals.

One email from an unidentified commissioner makes reference to not being "able to get the cheese until tomorrow when I get my paycheck. ... Can't you lend me a small burrito until then."

Another exchange between an unidentified PRC worker and an unidentified transportation department worker shows the PRC worker telling the other person, "I was stressed out, because the state auditor came for all my emails, and the only weird (sic) for the ones you sent to me saying I have a DR(hash)% problem, and I lied about coc(hash)$(hash)ne."

Balderas said the matter has been referred to criminal investigators.

Lyons accused Balderas of trying to cover up for Block by failing to audit the commission until after the allegations about Block were reported by the news media.

"That's all Block stuff," he said in reference to the audit. " ... That stuff was presented to him in 2011. He got caught not doing his job. He got caught trying to cover up another elected official."

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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