WSB's Veronica Waters reports former Campbell campaign treasurer Steve Labovitz testified that when he filled out 75 partially-blank money orders, brought to him by the Mayor's friend Rickey Rowe, he thought it unusual. But Labovitz said he trusted Rowe, who had a reputation as a bigger-than-life businessman who knew a lot of people.

Now, he says he realized he was naive.

"To my detriment, I relied on Mr. Rowe. Perhaps I was naive," said Labovitz. "Certainly, trusting."

Labovitz said he never discussed the incident with Campbell, who stood by his longtime friend after court.

"Look, you're talking about almost $7 million, 5- or 6,000 individual contributors, a period of eight years. He did a wonderful job and I was very proud of what he did," said Campbell.

Labovitz and Campbell met around 1977, he told jurors, and the two have been friends ever since--their families sometimes vacationing together or sharing Hanukkahs and Christmases together.

"Bill and I are very close. In many ways, I love Bill Campbell. But I would never lie for Bill Campbell," Labovitz testified.

Labovitz says he would never have asked for or allowed any illegal campaign contributions because his integrity is "incredibly important" to him.

Labovitz told the jury he was "pretty meticulous" with the campaign bookkeeping, particularly on the first campaign. But by the time of the second Campbell run in 1997, Labovitz says he was practicing law again and only worked part-time on the campaign books and fundraising.

Testimony resumes on Monday.

Friday, 3 March 2006