Sheryl Williams Stapleton conviction is welcome, but she should have been held accountable for lawbreaking years before

As is so often the case in New Mexico when criminals are not held accountable for breaking the law they simply continue to break the law until or unless they are finally held accountable. But, that often means lives lost and people harmed. Sheryl Williams Stapleton is different in the sense that she was a state legislator, but her illegal behavior was made public long before her corruption scandal.

Take a few minutes to check out this story by Larry Barker of Channel 13 from back in 2011. Barker blew the whistle on Stapleton receiving a salary for her day job with Albuquerque Public Schools while also serving as a state representative in the New Mexico Legislature. At the time, Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Winston Brooks said Williams Stapleton’s actions were contrary to the school district’s policy. Yet, Stapleton remained in the Legislature through 2021 when she resigned due to the criminal investigation.

Was there ever accountability for APS? Is APS currently enforcing its policy of NOT paying legislators?

While KRQE focuses inordinate time on whether New Mexico should or should not pay legislators that is a separate question. This was corruption on the part of Stapleton and APS.