Milwaukee Alderwoman Guilty In Misconduct, Campaign Finance Charges

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Milwaukee alderperson and former U.S. Senate candidate was convicted Monday on felony charges of misconduct in office and campaign finance and was removed from office, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Chantia Lewis, 42, who represented Milwaukee's 9th District in the Common Council, pleaded guilty to the misconduct charge, online court records showed. Lewis pleaded no contest to the campaign finance charge and a judge found her guilty in Milwaukee County Court, court records said. Lewis' sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 25.

A complaint initially accused Lewis of misappropriating funds by sending campaign contributions to a personal bank account. Lewis saw defense from her office when the charges arose, which said in a September statement that there were discrepancies because of accounting errors and that Lewis was cooperating.

In July of 2021 Lewis had announced a bid for U.S. Senate. The alderwoman was first elected in 2016, winning re-election in 2020.

SEE ALSO: Milwaukee Alderwoman Accused Of Embezzling $21K In Campaign Funds

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson released a statement on Twitter in reaction to the news alongside a link to Urban Milwaukee's story on the conviction.

"I believe in accountability for people who violate the law," Johnson wrote, "and today’s guilty plea by Alderwoman Chantia Lewis is an important step forward in holding her accountable for her financial misdeeds."

Lewis has said that she lacked information, the Journal Sentinel report said. She told Milwaukee Judge Milton Childs, who was overseeing the trial, that she did not agree she was aware of certain campaign finance practice. Her attorney, Michael Chernin, said Lewis was arguing she did not know the conduct was illegal at the time, Journal Sentinel reported.