Commissioner questioned about possible campaign conflict

A fundraiser to re-elect County Commissioner Sergio Lewis is being held Wednesday night, hosted by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Officers Association.

It comes just two days after Lewis led a vote to approve nearly $10.3 million dollars for new El Paso County Sheriff’s Office radios.

Is there a conflict of interest?

Over the past several weeks, Lewis has spoken out in support of the new radio system, which was $5.8 million over budget. On Monday, he was part of a 4-0 vote in favor of purchasing the system, expected to improve Sheriff’s Office communications, after a lengthy debate at commissioners court.

The fundraiser for Lewis, hosted by the Sheriff’s Officers Association, was to be held at the Rosales Law firm on Montana Street.

ABC-7 sat down with Lewis to discuss the timing of the fundraiser. He denied there being any type of conflict of interest, stating that the fundraiser has been planned for some time and the conversations about the radio system have been going on for more than two years.

“I have no reservations at all whatsoever,” Lewis said. “I would have supported the P-25 radio system with or without their support.”

According to the County Attorney’s office, no ethics complaint has been filed at this point. County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal said if a complaint is filed it would be handled like all other complaints to the County Attorney’s office.