Denver socialist says stealing food stamps actually ‘qualifies’ her to be mayor
This may be the most unconventional qualification listed by a candidate for public office this year.
Denver City Councilwoman and Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Shontel Lewis says her criminal conviction for stealing public benefits shouldn’t disqualify her from running the city.
She says the experience actually helps qualify her.
Lewis was questioned about the 2008 case during an interview with 9NEWS Denver’s Kyle Clark, who asked what she would tell voters who believe a conviction involving public money should be disqualifying for someone seeking control of city government.
Lewis didn’t dodge it.
“I actually think that experience is what actually qualifies me,” she said.
Lewis explained that she was a young mother, grieving and struggling financially at the time. She described what she did as “really silly,” while emphasizing that she paid restitution, served her sentence and experienced firsthand “all the ills of poverty.”
But this wasn’t simply a case of someone improperly obtaining benefits.
Lewis was working at Colorado’s Department of Human Services East Food Stamp Office.
According to reporting on the case, investigators accused Lewis of using access provided by her government job to find accounts containing unused benefits and reissue EBT cards. The cards were then used by Lewis and her roommate for food and cash benefits.
Lewis ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft, received 18 months of probation and paid restitution.
Denver City Councilwoman and Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Shontel Lewis says her criminal conviction for stealing public benefits shouldn’t disqualify her from running the city.
She says the experience actually helps qualify her.
Lewis was questioned about the 2008 case during an interview with 9NEWS Denver’s Kyle Clark, who asked what she would tell voters who believe a conviction involving public money should be disqualifying for someone seeking control of city government.
Lewis didn’t dodge it.
“I actually think that experience is what actually qualifies me,” she said.
Lewis explained that she was a young mother, grieving and struggling financially at the time. She described what she did as “really silly,” while emphasizing that she paid restitution, served her sentence and experienced firsthand “all the ills of poverty.”
But this wasn’t simply a case of someone improperly obtaining benefits.
Lewis was working at Colorado’s Department of Human Services East Food Stamp Office.
According to reporting on the case, investigators accused Lewis of using access provided by her government job to find accounts containing unused benefits and reissue EBT cards. The cards were then used by Lewis and her roommate for food and cash benefits.
Lewis ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft, received 18 months of probation and paid restitution.
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