Denver City Council member Shontel Lewis, a Democratic Socialist candidate for mayor, argued this weekend that her criminal conviction for stealing public food stamp benefits should not disqualify her from leading the city. In fact, she suggested, it makes her more suited for the job.
The claim came in response to a direct question from Kyle Clark of 9News Denver, who asked what Lewis would say to voters who consider a conviction involving public money to be disqualifying for a mayoral candidate.
Lewis Defends Her Record in Her Own Words
“I actually think that experience is what actually qualifies me,” Lewis said. “Twenty years ago, I was young. I was a young mom. I was grieving. I did something really silly and I paid my restitution. I did my time and I took care of what I needed to do while also navigating all the ills of poverty.”
Lewis has represented Denver City Council District 8 since July 2023. She is now seeking to become the city’s next mayor, asking Denver taxpayers to trust her with municipal finances and services.
What She Was Convicted of in 2008
The details of the conviction carry particular weight given where Lewis was working at the time. According to Shontel Lewis food stamp theft conviction, in 2008 she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft after investigators accused her of using her position at Colorado’s Department of Human Services East Food Stamp Office to access and reissue Electronic Benefit Transfer cards tied to other people’s assistance accounts.
Court records cited by The Colorado Sun state that she admitted to reissuing cards intended for other recipients for her roommate and herself. Lewis initially faced felony charges before the case was resolved as a misdemeanor. She received 18 months of probation.
What Comes Next in the Denver Mayor’s Race
Lewis now faces the challenge of convincing Denver voters that her past conduct in a government benefits office does not undercut her credibility to oversee the city’s budget and public services. Her comments have drawn sharp attention online and amplified scrutiny of her candidacy heading into the race.
Whether her framing resonates with Denver voters or hardens opposition to her campaign will likely become clearer as the mayoral contest moves forward and more candidates and voices weigh in on the controversy.
