Paper chase

Councilwoman's expenses drawing repeated questions

David Josar / The Detroit News

The paper

Wayne County elections officials are at loggerheads with Detroit Councilwoman Barbara-Rose Collins, asking her repeatedly to explain several expenses her "Collins for Victory Committee" paid during a November trip to Dubai. Collins went while serving as a trustee on Detroit's police and fire pension fund, which paid for the trip that cost more than $20,000. Elections officials most recently wrote to Collins on April 21 seeking clarity on whether the expenses are legit.

The chase

Some of the expenses that have elections officials raising eyebrows include:

• $1,000 worth of "incidentals."

• A $275 "dinner engagement with French Construction Contractor" at a Hard Rock Café in Dubai.

• A separate dinner at the Hard Rock Café with "Detroit visitors" that cost $250.

• $250 worth of taxis and $225 in "souvenirs for constituents and visitors to office."

Collins wrote that she needed a taxi because Dubai's "culture" restricts women from traveling alone, even though the U.S. State Department's Web site says Dubai -- one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates -- is one of the most progressive spots in the Middle East and posts no warnings about women driving alone.

Why it matters

Collins isn't running for re-election, but Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett is cracking down on questionable campaign expenses and could force her to repay the money. In the past several years, the county clerk has levied fines against several people running for offices over violations in their campaign reports -- nailing several council members and Wayne County commissioners. Recently obtained records show Collins dipped into her City Council account to pay for an assistant to accompany her on pension business to Singapore and Puerto Rico. A Collins staffer said she's out of the region and unavailable for comment.

djosar@detnews.comdjosar@detnews.com