Republican New Mexico candidate faces reimbursement delays

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico State Board of Finance has rejected an emergency request for funds to reimburse the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Congressman Steve Pearce for legal fees in a dispute over campaign finance rules.
Secretary of State's Office spokesman Joey Keefe said Tuesday that it unclear when the agency will be able to pay roughly $66,000 it owes to Pearce's campaign under a court-approved settlement.
State prosecutors and campaign finance regulators have agreed to pay most of Pearce's legal expenses after unsuccessfully challenging the candidate's right to transfer money from a federal campaign account to a state account to run for governor. Pearce is owed $134,000 in all.
Pearce campaign spokesman Kevin Sheridan says reimbursement delays are further proof of partisan actions by Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.