State Dem leader paid fiancee

The Associated Press reports:

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern has used $17,300 from his Ohio House campaign fund since 2006 to pay for rent and utilities in the capital city, including $4,500 paid to his future wife while the two lived together, according to campaign finance records.

Redfern, a state representative from Catawba Island, said the payment to Kim Redfern in May was for the cost of living with her earlier in the year. While they were engaged, she was contemplating becoming a lobbyist and he didn’t want to accept a gift from her as a result, he said. The two married in March, and state records show Kim Redfern is currently registered to represent 14 lobbying clients.

“When you’re under the microscope, you have to make sure you’re not doing things like staying and not paying rent,” Redfern said. “There’s always rumors that people stay in the houses of lobbyists or other Statehouse folks and don’t pay rent. We didn’t want to do that.”

Redfern reported spending another $12,800 in campaign funds to pay rent and utilities for an apartment in the Columbus Brewery District throughout 2006. The rent was $975 a month, and he wrote himself a $2,739 check in January to cover utility costs from the previous year.

The office of the state’s chief elections official said campaign money can legitimately be spent for accommodations in Columbus when out-of-town lawmakers are required to stay overnight during legislative sessions. The money cannot be spent to purchase property, however, said Patrick Gallaway, a spokesman for Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

“Obviously, he was trying to keep separate worlds going and he didn’t want it to look like he was freelancing,” Gallaway said.

In addition to his state salary, Ohio reimbursed Redfern $4,000 last year for job-related travel.