Bill Christofferson describes the job offers Marilyn received.

Mayor Norquist offers his version of the affair.

Marilyn disputes Norquist's version.

I have heard Ms. Figueroa, through her attorney, deny that she was ever offered any promotional opportunity for positions outside of the mayor's office during her time on the staff.

I served as chief of staff in the office of Mayor John O. Norquist from June 1996 to June 1998. In that capacity I was responsible for direct supervision of the rest of the staff, including six staff assistants. One of those staff assistants who reported to me was Marilyn Figueroa.

On two occasions, I offered Ms. Figueroa opportunities to become the director of the city's Community Development Block Grant office. The move would have been a substantial promotion with a large salary increase, and would have moved her out of the mayor's office. Both times she said she was not interested.

I first talked to her in late October or early November 1996, when the position was becoming vacant, and asked her whether she wanted the job. One of her assignments in the mayor's office was to handle block grant allocation issues, and she served on the policy committee which recommended how money should be distributed. Because of her familiarity with the process, the office, and the organizations which were funded, she seemed a logical choice. At the time of the offer, Ms. Figueroa was in Salary Grade 7 with an annual salary of $47,418. The block grant director's position was in Salary Grade 15, with an annual salary of $69,421. She said she was not interested in the position, and Stephen Holt was hired.

In March of 1998, when a vacancy again occurred in the block grant director position, I asked her again whether she wanted the job. At that point her salary in Grade 7 was at $48,890 and the Grade 15 salary in the other position was $69,421. She again said she was not interested and someone else, Michael Soika, was hired, in part on her recommendation.

During the time I was chief of staff, Ms. Figueroa also expressed interest in a position which was open in the Dept. of City Development, which I recall was a Salary Grade 8 or 9, and would also have been a promotion outside of the mayor's office. I encouraged her to seek it and said I would support her application and use my influence to try to help her get the position. She made some inquiries about the position and discussed it with some DCD officials, and it was clear she was a top candidate if she wanted the job. But she decided not to seek it, and to stay in the mayor's office instead.

Ms. Figueroa was offered the block grant director position a third time, when Michael Soika left that position to become chief of staff. Mr. Soika asked her then whether she wanted the job, and she again declined. At that time Ms. Figueroa's annual salary was $54,871 and the block grant directorship would have paid her $71,161.

Finally, it is my understanding that Ms. Figueroa was in serious consideration for and had an opportunity to be hired as director of a non-profit organization, outside of city government during 1999, but chose not to pursue that position either.

I am prepared, if the legal process proceeds, to testify to this under oath.