District 6 Councilman Don Zimmerman takes the oath of office Jan. 6.[/caption]

A former elected official has filed a complaint against District 6 Councilman Don Zimmerman for how his campaign funds were allocated.

Former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire, who now works as an attorney in Austin, alleges that Zimmerman violated state law by paying his wife, Jennifer, $2,000 from campaign funds for helping get him elected, as indicated in Zimmerman’s Campaign Finance Report. Texas law states that candidates or officeholders cannot pay themselves, their spouse or a dependent child. The law also prevents candidates or officeholders from paying business entities with which they are involved. “I’m absolutely dismayed that the law comes in and says, if my wife leaves her paying job, comes to work for me full-time on a campaign 30 to 40 hours a week, she works for four months…[and] if I give her $2,000, [then] I’ve broken the law," Zimmerman said. "My first response is, ‘You must be kidding.’ The law I thought I would break is that I owe her $10,000, and I only paid her $2,000. That would seem like I’m breaking the law because I’m only paying her one-fifth of what she’s worth.” Zimmerman could face a $4,000 fine, a year in jail or both if found in violation of the law. The issue is a confusing one, Zimmerman said. He said he wants to comply with the law but is concerned that if he gives the $2,000 back that he will be in violation of federal law for not paying his wife for work she performed. He admits to not reading up on the law beforehand, but Zimmerman defending himself by explaining how it is impossible to know how many state and federal laws he, or anyone, could potentially be violated. Zimmerman said he will continue to work hard to protect his constituents and their interests. “This case has basically no bearing on the work that I’m doing here. I’m very happy to be here and we’re going to continue to work hard," Zimmerman said. "We’re going to resolve this question over time.” The city's Communications and Public Information Office does not know of any other campaign-related complaints filed against other council members at this time.