Representative bills for massages, miles

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A state representative says there is nothing fishy about his expenses, even if some of them are for massages. But, a watchdog group says not only is it illegal, it's not his only questionable expense.

While New Mexico Watchdog sees glaring red flags in Representative Miguel Garcia ’s expenses, the state rep says he's done nothing wrong. You decide.

“The documents are there the reports are there we figured someone should read them," Jim Scarantino with newmexico.watchdog.org said.

Scarantino says he got quite the read when he started going through south valley representative Miguel Garcia's expenses.

“Representative Garcia used tax free campaign funds to pay for massages, spinal adjustments and wellness items he calls them,” said Scarantino.

Scarantino says the eight-term democrat also charged his campaign for Rail Runner tickets so he could ride the train up to Santa Fe, only to turn around and charge the state for the same trip.

“Then he would charge the taxpayer .55 cents a mile for driving his personal vehicle,” said Scarantino.

Garcia says he is transparent.

“I have been a very transparent, very open, very available legislator,” said Garcia.

Garcia said his campaign expenses can be explained; starting with those massages.

“I have had four back injuries and during the campaign season sciatic nerve kicks in especially going door to door and getting in and out of the car,” said Garcia.

He says because the injury flares up while campaigning, the treatment for it is a campaign expense.

Something Scarantino disputes, citing state law that says campaign cash cannot be used for personal reasons, like medical treatment.

So what about those rail runner tickets and gas mileage expenses?

“I usually have an extra car that I either come back in, I take the rail runner and I come back in the extra car or I take the extra car and I come back in the rail runner,” said Garcia.

Scarantino said, “I did not find any instance where he's put in for driving one way; the days where he's bought roundtrip rail runner tickets he put in for round trip mileage. ”

Garcia told News 13, “If legislative council feels that that scenario is not appropriate, I have no problem reimbursing them. ”

Garcia says that last year the secretary of state did have him repay his campaign for two expenses she felt were not within the rules.

Secretary of state Dianna Duran never called KRQE News 13 back to comment on this story.

Scarantino says he could only search records dating back to 2010 because previous Secretary of State Mary Herrera’s campaign records for lawmakers were incomplete.

Garcia is running for re-election in November.