Gov. Susana Martinez's chief of staff has reimbursed the state nearly $5,000 of personal purchases that he made using a state-issued credit card over the past two years.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Keith Gardner's use of the card for purchases of items ranging from auto tires to cellphone accessories violates state policy and procedures.
Gardner told the newspaper that his use of the card for personal purchases was "poor practice and sloppy" but the fact that he reimbursed the state show he had no intent to defraud taxpayers.
However, Gardner says from now on that any planned use of the card by him is subject to prior approval by the chief financial officer and a deputy chief of staff in the Governor's Office.
Information from: Albuquerque Journal.
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