City Council approves Office of Strategic Initiatives funding

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile Mayor Sam Jones spoke to FOX10 News about the results of an investigation by the District Attorney's Office about his campaign spending.

After much delay, the Mobile City Council approved two employee contracts for the Mayor's Office of Strategic Initiatives.

It's the same office that was recently at the center of an investigation by the Mobile County district Attorney's Office.

The only two employees in this office were investigated for possibly working on the mayor's campaign on city time.

FOX10 News asked Mayor Jones if the Office of Strategic Initiatives is just a front for another campaign office for the mayor.

Jones responded with, "It's over with. I'm done with that."

District Attorney Ashley Rich cleared the mayor and the two employees Donna Mitchell and Barbara Wolfe , of misusing campaign funds and working for the campaign on the city's dime.

However, Rich said money mistakes were made, and that the Jones campaign failed to keep adequate documents on its expenditures.

That goes for hours worked by campaign workers namely Wolfe, who is a paid campaign worker.

Rich said it was impossible to tell when she worked for the campaign.

We asked, "Moving forward will you be more careful and keep better records?"

Related: Strategic initiatives funding discussed

Jones answered, "I am through with that, finished with that."

Jones did discuss the role of the Office of Strategic Initiatives in the community.

"They provide services for citizens. They don't provide services to the mayor. They provide services to citizens in community and coordinate volunteers that are citizens based," said Jones.

A few of those citizens came forward Tuesday to encourage the city council to restore full funding to the office.