Sources Mayor Mark FunkhouserMayor Mark Funkhousertell Prime Buzz that Mayor Mark FunkhouseJeff RoeJeff Roer is talking to the ever controversial Jeff Roe about a paid advisory role in the mayor's office.

"They have met. They have talked. Advice has been exchanged," said Funkhouser spokesman Kendrick Blackwood. But whether the two are close to signing a contract "is really something for Mark to talk about," Blackwood said.

He would not confirm or deny talks about the status of any formal arrangement. He did say if an agreement is signed, the amount Roe would be paid would eventually be public record.

Roe is a former chief of staff for Missouri Congressman Sam Graves and is leading Graves' re-election effort against Democrat Kay Barnes, Funkhouser's predecessor.

A campaign consultant with clients nationwide, Roe is known for his hard-hitting campaigns against Democrats, particularly those in the Northland inside Graves' congressional district.

That a majority of the City Council is comprised of Democrats could prove highly problematic if a deal is reached. The news of his interest in Roe comes as Funkhouser is trying to smooth his turbulent relations with the council.

But the council has smacked around Funkhouser in recent weeks for allowing his wife to remain an active presence on the 29th floor. With Gloria Squitiro now barred from the mayor's office, except for brief visits, Funkhouser may feel the need for fresh counsel.

Roe could not be reached.

Sources said that if Roe was to come aboard, his work likely wouldn't begin until after the November election.

Mayor Kay Barnes hired well-known consultant Steve Glorioso to advise her on how her office was presented to the public. Glorioso now is one of her campaign director in her bid for Congress.

Critics have long said, and Funkhouser has admitted, that the mayor has struggled with the politics of running the city.