Geraghty In Contempt For Failure To Pay Mayor Fined For Delinquent Payments To Estranged Wife

Fri., Feb. 28, 1997

By Kristina Johnson kristinaj@spokesman.com

Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty was found in contempt of court this week for failing to pay mandated support payments to his estranged wife.

Superior Court Commissioner Fred Aronow ordered Geraghty to pay Marlene Geraghty $3,000 for the monthly payments he missed in December and January.

Aronow also fined Geraghty $400 for the delinquent payments. That money will go toward his estranged wife’s court costs and attorney fees.

At Jack Geraghty’s request, Aronow lowered the support the mayor must pay his wife from $1,640 to $1,500 a month.

“This is just part of the ongoing process of working out a settlement,” the mayor said Thursday. “Beyond that, I don’t want to comment.”

Marlene Geraghty also wouldn’t comment on the court’s decision.

Marlene and Jack Geraghty were married nearly 39 years ago and separated in April 1994. She petitioned for a legal separation on Jan. 10, 1996. Last March, he was ordered to pay her $1,640 a month until a permanent settlement is reached.

Since then, Geraghty has been called into court three times for missing support payments. Geraghty was late with payments in May and September, paying only after being ordered to explain in court why he wasn’t in contempt.

Aronow’s decision on Tuesday was the first time Geraghty was found in contempt for failure to pay.

Geraghty earns $36,000 a year as mayor and also runs a public relations consulting business.

In court records, Geraghty said he couldn’t afford the $1,640-a-month payment because his consulting income is less than expected.

“The principal reason why I have earned less from public relations and consulting is because of the time commitment required to be mayor of Spokane,” he wrote.

, DataTimes

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.