James B. Lewis

James Beliven Lewis (born November 30, 1947) is an American politician from the state of New Mexico. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the state treasurer of New Mexico from 1985–1990 and from 2006–2014. , he is the only African American to serve in the role.

Early life and education Lewis was born in Roswell, New Mexico, the son of Dorris Ward and William Reagor. After graduating from Gallup High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Bishop College and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the National American University in Albuquerque. Lewis served in the United States Army for two years as a military policeman during the Vietnam Era. He later worked for the Bernalillo County district attorney's office as a criminal investigator. Lewis was elected Bernalillo County treasurer in 1982, becoming the first African American to win a countywide election in New Mexico. He won re-election in 1984.

In December 1985, Governor Toney Anaya appointed Lewis as state treasurer after Earl Hartley pleaded guilty to misusing funds of the Western State Treasurers Association. He completed that term and ran for a full term in 1986, becoming the first African American elected to a statewide office in New Mexico.

Governor Bruce King appointed him chief of staff in November 1990. In October 2007, State Treasurer James B. Lewis was elected president of the Western State Treasurers Association. In 2010, Lewis was president of the National Association of State Treasurers. In 2011 he received NAST's Jesse M. Unruh Award for current state treasurers. In 2014, Lewis was elected president of the National Association of Auditors, Comptrollers and State Treasurers.