SACRAMENTO–

Mayor Kevin Johnson is good at asking for things, like for the Kings to stay in Sac town and for Sacramentans to give him their vote.

But, for the second year in a row, KJ’s under state scrutiny for doing the wrong thing when it comes to asking for money.

“We’re investigating. But investigation doesn’t mean the allegations are true – just that we’re looking at it,” said Gary Winuk with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission.

The FPPC, the state’s political watchdog, is  looking into a “conflict of interest” complaint against the mayor.

While it’s legal for a public official to try and direct funds to a third party, like a charity, it’s not legal for that to be done with the intent of them getting a benefit.

In this case the man who filed the complaint, Eric Sunderland, claims in one instance Walmart-related groups gave $600,000 to charities at the mayor’s request.

He claims $500,000 of it went to a group Johnson founded: Stand Up for Sacramento Schools.

Stand Up then gifted Johnson with more than $23,000 worth of travel.

Just last month, Johnson was one of six city council members who voted to ease city regulations on big box stores like Wal-Mart.

“In general if you receive a gift from someone that’s over $440, which is the limit for public officials in California,  and then you vote on an issue that had material financial impact … then that’s a conflict of interest,” said Winuk.

The mayor’s office would only offer written comment about this Tuesday.

Through an emailed statement, Johnson’s spokesman Ben Sosenko wrote, “the  mayor is fully cooperating and confident that the FPPC will find no conflict.”

The Sacramento man behind this new complaint, Eric Sunderland, could not be reached for comment today. FOX40 was told he is out of the country.

Just nine months ago Johnson had to pay the state more than $37,000 in fines because of another investigation by the FPPC.

Financial requests he made as a public official weren’t bring documented properly.