Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien is denying an article published by the Ottawa Citizen that alleges his ex-wife is raising money for legal fees on his behalf.

The article published Friday morning alleges a city contractor was contacted by the mayor's former wife Debbie O'Brien in an effort to solicit an unspecified donation.

Police Chief Vern White told the Citizen he forwarded a letter to Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino when he learned of the contractor's concern.

Touchy subject

At a hastily called news conference Thursday night O'Brien told reporters to keep his family out of his legal woes.

"I have spoken to Debbie, and this is patently untrue," the mayor said in anticipation of the pending article. "I am, for the record, capable of handling my own legal expenses."

Councillor Eli El-Chantiry told CTV News that media coverage becomes a touchy subject when it starts to involve members of one's family.

"When it comes to your family I think sometimes we seem to act defensively because surely to God I don't want anybody to drag my family through the city business," El-Chantiry said.

Facing charges

O'Brien is currently awaiting a 2009 spring trial to fight charges that he attempted to influence the city's 2006 mayoral race.

Police spent eight months investigating claims by Terry Kilrea that O'Brien offered him a position on the National Parole Board to leave the race for mayor.

The investigation into the matter was sparked by a complaint from the Ottawa and District Labour Council.

Kilrea alleges he was offered $30,000 to cover his expenses; Kilrea eventually dropped out of the mayor's race, but said he never accepted any money.

O'Brien denies the bribery allegations, along with the claim he discussed a possible appointment for Kilrea with federal Environment Minister John Baird, a Conservative Ottawa MP and the Treasury Board president during the period in question.

The case is scheduled to go to trial April 6, 2009.

Despite his legal woes, O'Brien maintains he is committed to city business and is not distracted by his pending court case.

"These allegations and this folly is not distracting me from my day-to-day work," he told reporters Thursday.

Check out CTV's EXTENDED COVERAGE: Watch and read Mayor Larry O'Brien's statement to reporters.