A campaign flyer mailed to households this week charges democratic state representative candidate Sarah Hewins of Carver with violating ethics laws and says she is under investigation for illegally accepting campaign donations.

Hewins denies the claims saying the accusations are baseless and an attempt to discredit her days before the Nov. 8 election.

Paid for by the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, the flyer makes several claims that Hewins said are misleading. The flyer ends by saying Hewins attempted to mislead voters: “It’s a desperate tactic from a candidate with a history of ethical problems!”

A current member of the Carver Board of Selectmen, Hewins is challenging Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) who has held the seat for the past 14 years. Until the flyer was sent, Hewins said she believed both camps were waging tough but fair campaigns.

“The campaign between Susan and I was pretty civil until this happened,” said Hewins. “It’s one thing to challenge somebody’s record, but it’s another thing entirely to go after their character.”

Gifford’s name does not appear on the flyer, and the candidate said she was not aware of its existence until she received a copy in the mail.

While Gifford called the flyer’s tone “a bit over the top,” she said the statements are true.

“These facts, mailed out by the MassGOP are facts. Sarah continues to lie, and the voters of this district deserve better. They deserve someone who tells the truth and works for them, every day.” said Gifford.

According to Hewins, one of the more egregious claims concerned her opposition to a “Code of Conduct” proposed by Carver’s town administrator.

The flyer correctly states Hewins voted against the Code of Conduct three times as a Selectman. However, Hewins and current Carver Board of Selectmen Chair Ron Clarke, a Republican, said the objection was focused on one issue. The code prevents Selectmen from speaking with town employees – a sticking point for Hewins.

“I don’t have a problem with any of it except for the part forbidding Selectmen to talk with town employees,” she said. “Why should I or any other Selectmen not be able to ask town employees how they are doing or to see how taxpayer money is being spent?”

While Clarke had no objection to the code, he understood Hewins’ opposition and said her ethics were beyond reproach.

“She’s among the last person I know that would violate any laws,” said Clarke. “In fact, she recuses herself from issues that might only appear to be a conflict by a huge stretch of the imagination – just to be on the safe side.”

In a written response to Hewins’ issues with the flyer, Gifford pointed out the fact that Hewins did indeed vote against the code three times.

The flyer also states Hewins is under investigation for illegally accepting campaign donations at a meet and greet held this summer in the Wareham Free Library. The Massachusetts Republican Party officially filed a complaint with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. In a letter dated Oct. 24, the committee says a campaign worker for Hewins asked for donations at the event, held on July 26. The committee has a recording of the alleged violation that it posted online to the website SoundCloud.

In the recording, a male voice is heard saying: “So obviously this is not all that interesting, but the main thing I want to point out is…donate.” The voice goes on to speak about other campaign related issues, such as the need for placing signs for Hewins around town.

Hewins said neither she nor anyone working on her behalf asked for donations at the event.

“We did not accept any donations, nothing happened,” said Hewins.

Hewins questioned why the recording surfaced so close to the election and wondered who recorded the event in the first place.

Regarding all investigations, Jason Tait, communications director at the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, said his organization does not confirm nor deny any complaints filed with his office.

Speaking in general, he said, “Any complaint that comes to the office is reviewed. For complaints that are made shortly before an election, they would be resolved after the election.”

He noted that campaign laws prevent anyone from soliciting or receiving contributions in government buildings. Violations for breaking the law include a fine of not more than $1,000 or a year in prison. For the most part, Tait said violations are settled informally by his office.

“Each instance is considered on a case-by-case basis,” said Tait.

The flyer also states that Hewins had a conflict of interest while she worked for the town as Conservation Agent at the same time she served as a Selectman.

“Voters had to pass a conflict of interest law and then Sarah quit her job!” reads the flyer.

Hewins said the truth is she took early retirement when Town Meeting passed a bylaw prohibiting town employees from holding elected office. Prior to running for office, she contacted the State Ethics Commission who told her there was no conflict as long as she wasn’t paid for both positions.

“I decided to take early retirement from my position as Conservation Agent -- a job I loved -- to continue to be able to serve my town as Selectman,” said Hewins.

According to Gifford, records show Hewins’ time as Selectman and Conservation Agent posed problems.

“One only needs to go through the minutes of the Selectmen’s meetings on the Carver website to see her recuse herself time and time again from important matters before the Carver Board of Selectmen because participating as a Board member was against the conflict of interest laws,” wrote Gifford.

According to another claim, 90 percent of Hewins campaign funds come from her personally and that only one other person in the district has donated to her campaign.

Online records of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance show that of the $26,765 in campaign contributions donated since Jan. 1, 2016, $19,000 was from Hewins and the remainder came from 22 other donors.

Repeated calls to the Massachusetts Republican State Committee for comment were not returned as of this publication.

To read Gifford's full response, click on the link below.