Oct 28, 2008: Treasurer Lewis Re-Elected President of Western State Treasurers’ Association Appointed to 2 National Boards

Treasurer Lewis Re-Elected President of Western State Treasurers’ Association, Appointed to 2 National Boards for Public Finance Officials

SANTA FE – New Mexico State Treasurer James B. Lewis has been elected to a second term as president of the Western State Treasurers’ Association by the treasurers of that region. His consecutive one-year term begins December 1, 2008.

Treasurer Lewis was re-elected to the position during the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) annual conference in Rockport, Maine, that took place August 18-21, 2008. As president of the Western-region association, Lewis also serves as a vice-president on the NAST executive board.

“I am honored my colleagues have chosen me to continue the work we began together a year ago,” Lewis said. “The Western state treasurers’ initiatives – especially with regard to municipal bonds, the sub-prime market and financial literacy – have gained in importance and increased in relevance as states face this volatile and turbulent financial market.”

In March 2008, California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer testified before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, calling for an overhaul of the rating system for municipal bonds. In April, Arizona State Treasurer Dean Martin addressed the same House Committee on the importance of public-private partnerships to advance financial literacy and education.

During the NAST conference, Lewis was also elected to the NAST Foundation board and was selected by NAST President and Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins to serve as a liaison between NAST and the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT).

As a member of the NAST Foundation board, Lewis will oversee the educational activities of the foundation, including the National Institute for Public Finance, the New Treasurers Symposium, and initiatives to promote financial literacy. Lewis’s two-year term on the board begins December 1.

In his capacity as a NAST liaison, Lewis joins two other state treasurers on the NASACT executive board to strengthen collaboration between the two national associations and to share information and policy initiatives of mutual interest. During his one-year term as a NAST liaison, Lewis will continue serving on the NASACT International Committee to which he was named in 2007. The committee examines the global economy, capital investments, currencies and other financial issues.

Founded in 1976, NAST is an organization of state financial leaders that encourages the highest ethical standards, promotes education and the exchange of ideas, develops standards of excellence, and influences public policy for the benefit of the citizens of the states. The NAST Foundation, established in 2000, is the association’s not-for-profit partner dedicated to educational initiatives for public finance officials and the general public.

NASACT, founded in 1915, assists officials elected or appointed to the offices of state auditor, state comptroller or state treasurer in the effective and efficient management of government resources through education, collaboration, training and best practices.