Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon plays hanky panky with chief campaign fundraiser, a woman 20 years younger, Elissa Mullany

The ink on his divorce isn't final, but that hasn't stopped Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon from dating his chief campaign fundraiser, a woman 20 years younger, Elissa Mullany, 38.

Gordon has hired a public relations firm and private attorney. A review of records reveals one of Mullany's companies received a $5,000 contract with the City of Phoenix to plan a breakfast at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium on February 27, 2004. Documents also show Gordon appointed Mullany to multiple city committees during the last five years.

Most recently, she served as a board member on his Phoenix Global Trade Initiative, which paid for her to travel to Dubai. Mullany also traveled to Saudi Arabia and Israel with the mayor. Calls to Mullany's office and cell phone were not returned. Mullany is a paid employee of Gordon's mayoral campaign.

According to the mayor's campaign expenditure reports, Mullany and her business partners have been paid tens of thousands of dollars. Her company, MullanyWunder LLC, raised more than $1 million for the mayor's campaign.

Between 2004 and 2009, Mullany served at various times on the city's Encanto Village Planning Committee, Alhambra Village Planning Committee, Citizen's Transit Commission, and Phoenix Sister Cities Commission. Gordon nominated her for two of these appointments.

According to the news release, Gordon asked Phoenix City Attorney Gary Verburg for his "opinion on the appropriateness of any past and future appointments of her to city commissions."

In a letter to the mayor on Wednesday, Verburg said, "It is my opinion that no ordinance or conflict of interest law has been violated as a result of these appointments."

Gordon is also consulting with former Arizona State Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Zlaket to review "matters related to my campaign and private sector initiatives."

Mayor Gordon shows off back brace

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon held a press conference on his recent back injury Friday morning.

The Mayor said that he is back on the job as of the press conference, but is "moving slower" due to the injury.

Gordon sported his back brace during the presser, which wrapped around the bottom of his torso and the top of his hips.

He said that medicine is helping subside the pain from the injury.

Gordon said that it was someone from his staff that forced him to go to the hospital emergency room on Tuesday. The Mayor had reported to work but complained of back pain.

During his examination doctors told the Mayor that he had fractured the third vertebrae from the bottom.

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Spokesman Scott Phelleps confirmed that Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon is recovering from a broken vertebrae.

The injury occurred while Gordon was tending to yard work at his house.

The mayor had climbed up a tree to clear broken limbs and storm debris from the tree this past weekend. He fell out of the tree, falling approximately 13 feet.

The mayor went to work Tuesday morning, but went to a doctor after complaining of pain.

Doctors have fitted Gordon with a back brace and he is expected to return to work this week, possibly even Wednesday.

Gordon fractured the third vertebrae in his back.