Investigator Exclusive: Cleveland Councilman uses tax dollars to pay wife

CLEVELAND -- Channel 3 News has learned that Ward 2 councilman Robert White may have broken state law by putting his wife on the payroll.

White represents Clevelanders living in the Union-Miles and Turney neighborhoods. State ethics laws prohibit a public official from hiring a spouse or family member.

But city records show that White paid his wife, Darlene Jackson, nearly $6,000 for clerical work White says she did in 2006 and 2007. White has not been charged with an offense, but an ethics violation is punishable by possible jail time if convicted.

White told the Investigator Tom Meyer that he made a mistake and he's trying to correct it. At first he said he paid the money back, but then told Meyer the money has been placed in escrow. White refused to give details and referred questions to his lawyer. He also refused to identify his lawyer.

Cleveland city council members each receive more than $14,000 a year in spending money in addition to their salary of $72,586. Most council members use money from their spending account to pay for rent, gas, electric, and phones for their ward offices.

White admits to paying his wife 21 percent of his total two year stipend. He said he now realizes it's against the law to pay his wife. Fellow city councilman Brian Cummins says it's something all elected leaders should be aware of at the time they take office.