Stokes AWOL from first School Committee meeting

Published: January 03, 2008 12:00 am

Stokes AWOL from first School Committee meeting
By Zach Church , Staff writer
Eagle-Tribune

LAWRENCE - James Stokes failed to show up last night to be sworn in as a member of the School Committee.

His decision to stay away came as Mayor Michael Sullivan confirmed that the FBI and investigators from the U.S. district attorney's office have been asking questions at City Hall about whether Stokes fabricated his military service and falsely declared himself a veteran on the November ballot.

Stokes, who was elected in November to his first term, has claimed 20 years of service, most with the U.S. Marine Corps. But the Marines and the National Personnel Records Center have no record of Stokes serving.

City Veterans Affairs Director Francisco Urena has declared Stokes' military discharge, on file at City Hall, a forgery littered with errors and inconsistencies. Stokes, however, has never applied for benefits or assistance from the city and it is unknown how the document made it into city records.

Sullivan said federal investigators have spoken with at least one department head in City Hall, but that he knew no other details of an investigation.

A fax, purportedly from Stokes, 65, arrived at the city clerk's office yesterday. The typewritten document was not signed, but said that Stokes would not attend last night's inauguration and swearing-in ceremonies at Lawrence High School, Sullivan said. The fax came from Packard Pharmacy on Winthrop Street, near Stokes' Boxford Street home.

Stokes, who last week said he intends to take his seat on the committee, can be sworn in by City Clerk William Maloney at a future date.

But his absence last night left a vote for vice chairman of the new committee deadlocked at 3-3, with votes split between Peter Larocque and incoming Councilor Samuel Reyes. The committee tabled the vote until its Jan. 10 meeting.

"We're waiting for Stokes," Reyes said. Sullivan, as mayor, serves as chairman of the committee.

Stokes has declined comment about his military service.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. district attorney in Boston would not say if Stokes is being investigated.

Sullivan has asked the Essex County district attorney's office to investigate Stokes to see if he broke the law when declaring himself a veteran on the November ballot or submitting a fake discharge letter to the city. Assistant District Attorney Tom Donovan said last week that prosecutors are considering the situation, but so far have found no crime under which Stokes could be charged.



A new federal law, the Stolen Valor Act, allows for a misdemeanor charge against someone who falsely wears or claims on paper to wear certain military honors. Stokes' discharge claims he received a number of honors, including the Purple Heart, awarded to servicemen and women wounded or killed in action.

Ellie