Reyes says Ethics Commission also looking into candidate use of school printing press
LAWRENCE — School Committee member Sammy Reyes said he has been cooperating with a state Ethics Commission investigation into whether one of his fellow board members used the school printing press for campaign signs and mailings.
Reyes said he filed the complaint against School Committee member Priscilla Baez in October 2008, but only heard from investigators recently who said they were looking into the case. The state agency does not confirm or deny investigations.
Reyes alleges that school employees saw Baez's brother Mark Rivera — the former assistant to Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy — use school materials and equipment to make campaign postcards and signs for Baez during the 2007 general election.
"A request of the campaign finance report for the candidate indicates no expenditures for any supplies or printing material," Reyes wrote in his complaint. "There were two mailings to the residents of Mrs. Baez's district where postal cost was necessary, but was not reported in her submitted required forms. It is believed, based on information of the Lawrence U.S. Post Office, that hundreds of these postcards were mailed."
Baez did not return messages left on her cell phone and School Department e-mail address.
State ethics laws prohibit public officials from using public resources for private purposes. It is also illegal for public officials to use their official positions to obtain an unwarranted privilege of substantial value that wouldn't be available to others.
The Ethics Commission can impose civil fines of up to $2,000 for each violation of the state conflict of interest law. In addition, it can file a lawsuit to recover monetary damages.
