Posted on: Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Former councilwomaan Mansho starts probation

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Former City Councilwoman Rene Mansho today will end her one-year prison sentence for misusing campaign money and city staff and go on five years' probation.

John Kellam, Women's Community Correctional Center warden, said Mansho has been an exemplary prisoner and a good influence on the other inmates. "She has been a great mentor for some of the women," he said.

While she made a mistake, he said, it was good for the other women to see someone of her accomplishments serving time. He said she did not put on airs and performed the same duties as other inmates, such as 240 hours of kitchen work.

Mansho, a former schoolteacher, also tutored inmates and served as co-facilitator for a book club, Kellam said.

In November, Mansho became eligible for a work furlough program that required her to report to a landscaping job at the prison on weekdays, for which she was paid 25 cents an hour.

More recently she reported to prison only three days a week and began actively job hunting. Kellam said he knows that she has put out feelers with potential employers but "I don't have a clue as to what may be on the horizon for her."

Kellam did say that the former councilwoman has expressed interest in returning to the prison as a volunteer to work with some of the inmates, once her schedule and probation requirements permit.

The warden said that Mansho looks more relaxed and fit than she did when she came in.

"She did what a lot of us wish we could do," he said. "She quit smoking and lost weight at the same time."