A lobbying firm employing the wife of the chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party is paid $3,000 a month by the city of Parma, whose mayor is treasurer of the state party.

But Mayor Dean DePiero, although elected to be the party's treasurer, is not paid, so there is "no quid pro quo," said Chris Redfern, state party chairman.

"I suppose if (DePiero) was paid or compensated in any way, it would be a much better story, but he's not," Redfern said

Kimberly Redfern, the chairman's wife, is a lobbyist for the firm owned by longtime Statehouse lobbyist Richard L. Boylan, a Republican. In 2008, the city of Parma hired Boylan and Ms. Redfern to lobby for the city, paying their firm $36,000 last year.

The Redferns are friends with DePiero and his wife; last year, the Redferns gave them a $100 wedding gift.

Hiring the lobbyists has been a good investment for the city, DePiero said.

"They were able to help us with some capital bill stuff and some of the (federal) stimulus stuff."

DePiero has been state party treasurer since Redfern became party chairman in late 2005.

-- Joe Hallett jhallett@dispatch.com