Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle's payments to a political supporter led the city solicitor yesterday to refer Ms. Carlisle's spending records to the Allegheny County district attorney and the State Ethics Commission for investigation.

	Chart: Carlisle's Contributions

Solicitor Susan Malie, who requested Ms. Carlisle's spending records from 2002 to the present, said she reviewed only the payments to two individuals: a $27,195 payment to her former campaign treasurer and family friend Lee O. Johnson and payments totaling $30,740 to political supporter Sheryl Ann Pinson-Smith.

Mr. Johnson, who owns a Penn Hills home jointly with Ms. Carlisle's mother, was paid for an 85-page study on health issues that consisted of reports written by other entities and an essay on race and religion. Ms. Malie said that spending did not appear to violate any laws.

Ms. Malie would not detail her concerns with the $30,740 that Ms. Carlisle paid Ms. Pinson-Smith over the last three years. Ms. Pinson-Smith, known to be a longtime friend of Ms. Carlisle, could not be reached for comment.

Ms. Carlisle said two weeks ago that Ms. Pinson-Smith was "a clerical employee" who did not work in council's Downtown office. She said that she does not keep detailed records of her spending.

The councilwoman could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Controller's office records show $177,892 in discretionary spending, other than staff salaries, by Ms. Carlisle since 2002. Much of it is for two dozen consultants and several temporary employee services, though it also includes payments to churches, social organizations, and athletic groups.

The solicitor said she "only focused on Pinson-Smith and Johnson," but turned over complete spending data and records of interviews to District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. and the ethics commission.

Those records almost certainly document large-scale payments of public money to people who worked on the councilwoman's election campaign.

Ms. Carlisle's campaign spending records indicate that in 2002 and 2003, when she faced re-election, her political committee reimbursed expenses fronted by Janet Cunningham of Mt. Lebanon, Paul Brown of the Strip District, Leroy Wofford of Homewood, Darlene Durham of East Liberty, and Emmett Jones, whose residence could not be determined.

All subsequently got city money, including $43,545 paid to Ms. Dunham, $17,860 to Ms. Cunningham, and $4,976 to Mr. Jones.

Ms. Dunham said she was paid for research into redevelopment efforts in Houston, where she lived during parts of the last four years. Owner of Taking Charge Training and Consulting, she said she had "10 or 15 years" of experience in community development.

Some of the money was for time spent driving Ms. Carlisle around Houston, showing her improvements in sidewalks, street trees, and public housing, she said.

"I have known Twanda and have been a friend of hers for many, many years, but that doesn't mean we're not professional," she said. "She is a person of high integrity."

The other campaign helpers who got city money could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Zappala's office issued a statement indicating that it received the documents forwarded, and would review them.

Vince Dopko, chief counsel for the ethics commission, said he couldn't confirm or deny the receipt of materials or any investigation. He said his agency has jurisdiction over council members, and said most of its investigations focus on whether public officials take actions that financially benefit themselves, their close relatives, or businesses with which they are associated.

Ms. Malie said Mr. Johnson is not considered a relative of the councilwoman.

Council discretionary spending has been ratcheted down from $99,000 per member in 2002 to $85,000 this year. Most spend the bulk on staff salaries.

Ms. Malie said that Ms. Carlisle never overspent her total budget.

Council President Luke Ravenstahl said he would introduce a resolution Tuesday calling for new controls on council spending.

Temporary employees receiving more than $10,000 in a given year, and consultants getting more than $1,000, would have to have detailed contracts and provide evidence of the work performed.

Acting Controller Tony Pokora said he would immediately implement those changes, with or without council approval.

Mr. Ravenstahl also wants the power to personally approve any travel, education, training and professional service spending by council. He would bar the transfer of funding from accounts for employee salaries to consulting accounts.

"These are changes I feel must be implemented to ensure that the full light of day is shed on council spending," he said.

He called Ms. Carlisle's spending "a black eye" and "an isolated incident." Asked whether such spending would occur again, he said, "Not as long as I'm president."