Tina Houghton has been in the hot seat for not paying more than $3,000 in back-taxes to the city of Lansing and Ingham County. City Clerk Chris Swope confirmed that as of Wednesday morning that Houghton has paid up on the taxes owed in her Coulson Court Property in South Lansing. Houghton says, "I don't owe a dime. I'm so happy."

Mayor Virg Bernero helped her raise money for her campaign. He says he's happy the issue is resolved. He says, "I'm delighted, I'm sure she can put this behind her. Tina and Brian are wonderful people. They're a typical Lansing family that undergo struggles, these are tough economic times. I really believe that she's more qualified, not less qualified because of these struggles. She understands what these families go through."

Even though the taxes are paid, it's not likely the issue will go away. Some council members say they will continue to ask questions. Councilmember Wood says, "There's a charter requirement that council is to look into when you have someone that doesn't meet the qualifications whether we're talking about a board or an elected official."

Critics say Houghton violated a rule in the city charter that states that you cannot hold office if you are default to the city.

Wood says, "There's a number of qualifications and one of them is you can't have any indebtedness to the city even a parking ticket."

Critics point out that the qualifications include the parks board that the mayor appointed her to in 2007. Protester and concerned citizen, Robert Gray, says, "At that time, she was not eligible to be on the city board. period." Gray says he'll continue to fight to get her removed.

Bernero feels the push is political. Bernero says, "I think a lot of that is sour grapes about the election." Houghton says, "I actually have no intention of stepping down. I plan on taking that seat on January one." She adds, "If I've learned anything from this, there's going to be opposition....I am the right person and I am going to move the city forward. I've made it right. We now don't owe anything to the city and county. I need to prove myself and I'm going to do that."

We asked how Houghton got herself in this situation in the first place. She says, "We struggled, our family is not excluded from those struggles. Raising four children in today's society, we got behind. We got in over our heads and we've got a plan and we're going to come out of it. The great thing about a family, when the tough times hit, we were able to pull together."

Houghton says her husband paid about $1,397.00 that was still owed in taxes to the city Wednesday morning. She said she had already paid the other taxes owed to the county. She says her family helped her settle the debt.