West Side City Council Candidate Dan Lewis today mailed a personalized letter to all financial contributors of City Councilor Michael Cadigan’s previous campaigns to let them know they don’t have to write another check to Cadigan’s re-election effort because if they have paid taxes in Albuquerque, they’ve already contributed to campaign funds that were available to Cadigan’s campaign under the new “Open and Ethical Election Law.”

Lewis explained that: “Under the ‘Open and Ethical Election Law,’ a law championed by Mr. Cadigan and overwhelmingly passed by voters in 2005, if Mr. Cadigan was willing to put in the work to collect $5 contributions from just 1% of the registered voters in his West Side council district, then on June 3rd of this year he would have automatically received nearly $50,000 to spend on his re-election campaign, and he would not have to ask you to contribute another cent to his campaign.”

“Unfortunately,” explained Lewis, “Mr. Cadigan chose not to put in the time to comply with the requirements of his own “Open and Ethical Election Law,” and opted out of the law, expecting you to give yet again, even though you have ‘already given at the office’ through the taxes you’ve paid.”
Lewis’ letter explained that his own campaign has complied with “The Open and Ethical Election Law,” and that his “door is always open to you…no contribution required.” 

Commenting on his reasons for sending the letter, Lewis explained: “Mr. Cadigan’s actions do not follow his words:  He pushed the “Open and Ethical Election Law” claiming it would help stop “pay to play” politics, and the first chance he gets, he abandons the law he helped write.  This is another example of Mr. Cadigan’s double standard of expecting others to do what he is unwilling to do himself.  It reeks of hypocrisy and reflects his bad habit of “do as I say and not as I do” that’s showing itself more and more as we look closer and closer at Mr. Cadigan’s record.”

Lewis explained that all three current mayoral candidates have complied with the “Open and Ethical Election Law,” as well as has at least one candidate from each of the city council districts holding elections this year.  “It is not too much to expect people who want to serve on the council to comply with the law; but it is way too much to ask citizens to bail a candidate out by paying twice because he chose not expend the effort to work within the new law.”

Lewis encouraged the previous Cadigan contributors to assist Mr. Cadigan in complying with the law he helped write by not letting him make them pay twice for his campaign expenses.
For Dan’s bio and more on the priorities he will pursue as city councilor, please visit www.ElectDanLewis.com.

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(Note:  See text of Dan Lewis’ letter that follows this release.)

Text of Dan Lewis Letter Sent to
Former Financial Contributors to Michael Cadigan Campaigns

If you already haven’t, you will probably soon receive a request from City Councilor Mike Cadigan asking you to contribute money up to over $500 to his re-election campaign.  I am writing this letter to inform you about the fact that if you have paid taxes in the City of Albuquerque, then you should know that, under a new law, you have already contributed sufficient money that was available to Mr. Cadigan to finance his re-election campaign.

Under the “Open and Ethical Election Law,” a law championed by Mr. Cadigan and overwhelmingly passed by voters in 2005, if Mr. Cadigan was willing to put in the work to collect $5 contributions from just 1% of the registered voters in his West Side council district, then on June 3rd of this year he would have automatically received nearly $50,000 to spend on his re-election effort, and he would not have to ask you to contribute another cent to his campaign.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cadigan chose not to put in the time to comply with the requirements of his own “Open and Ethical Election Law,” and opted out of the law, expecting you to give yet again, even though you have “already given at the office” through the taxes you’ve paid.

I’m Dan Lewis, West Side city council candidate.  I did comply with “The Open and Ethical Election Law,” and I am writing to let you know that my campaign is completely paid for and requires no additional burden from taxpayers like you who have already paid your fair share.

My door is always open to you and the ideas and plans you have to improve our city and increase jobs and businesses you help produce—no contribution required.

Thanks for assisting Mr. Cadigan in complying with the law he helped write.  You have already provided the funds to finance his attempt to get re-elected—you don’t have to pay twice for his campaign expenses.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Dan Lewis

This mailing paid by the Committee to Elect Dan Lewis.  David Adkins, Treasurer.  Not commercially produced.