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When state Rep. John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, narrowly won his re-election bid in 2000, he opened a permanent campaign office and made his brother-in-law, Samuel "Buzz" Stokes, the campaign manager.

Mr. Stokes, 66, of Philadelphia, was on the caucus payroll from December 2000 to December 2008.

His starting annual salary was $25,000 and was incrementally raised to a high of $37,440 in 2006, according to grand jury presentment yesterday that alleged he was paid by the state for Republican campaign work. His total taxpayer-funded compensation through 2006 was $196,808.

In 2008, his salary was $28,833.

The presentment said Mr. Stokes told a Perzel district office staffer that he found it "amusing" that he was on the state payroll. He told the staffer he wanted a paycheck and benefits, and since he couldn't get that through campaign funds, Mr. Perzel put him on the state payroll, the presentment said.

Staffers said Mr. Stokes was "exclusively a campaign office employee."

Dozens of people who testified before a grand jury said Mr. Stokes was the "prime architect and keeper of the Blue Card program through its life." The so-called Blue Card system was a database that compiled information about the individuals in each household in Mr. Perzel's district, including whether the people in the household were likely to vote for him.

One aspect of his work that could be considered legislative, staffers said, was his assistance in setting up "senior expos" or "night out" events, which served as public relations forums that were held two or three times a year.

Mr. Perzel was listed as his supervisor in Mr. Stokes' personnel file.

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