Mayor Sheila Dixon?s campaign defended the employment of her sister, calling the hiring perfectly legal and above-board.
“Janice Dixon works here full time for the campaign. She plays a very important role and should be compensated,” said Dixon campaign manager Martha McKenna. “She?s in charge of the entire sign operation, and she is a big part of the success of this campaign.”
According to campaign finance records released this week, Janice Dixon received nearly $20,000 in compensation working for the mayor?s campaign.
Janice Dixon formerly formerly was employed by UTECH, the company that embroiled Sheila Dixon in controversy over her role in approving contracts for the company while she served as chair of the city?s Board of Estimates.
Dixon was later cleared by a city ethics board, but the president of UTECH, Mildred Boyer, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of creating false invoices. Her trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
The hiring of family members by campaigns is permitted by law and is fairly common.
Gov. Martin O?Malley?s brother, Peter O?Malley, served as deputy campaign manager for his brother?s 2006 gubernatorial campaign.
Current Dixon rival City Councilman Keiffer Mitchell Jr. is embroiled in his own family controversy over his father?s tenure as treasurer of his mayoral campaign.
Dr. Keiffer Mitchell Sr. resigned after the campaign disputed expenditures he authorized, including checks made out to cash and for a hotel room for his wife. Finance reports revealed thousands of additional dollars of cash expenditures that were challenged by the campaign and have yet to be reimbursed.
