A DeKalb City councilman is being sued in small claims court for allegedly failing to pay a campaign supporter.

Seventh Ward Alderman Mark Powell is being sued for $184 in campaign bonuses and back pay excluding court costs.

Former NIU student Thomas Fessler, now living in Addison, filed a claim Tuesday against Powell. The claim states Powell failed to pay $34 in wages. Fessler said the wages were for work he performed for Powell’s campaign.

The claim also states Powell failed to pay a $150 bonus. Fessler said Powell agreed to pay a $200 campaign bonus if he won the election. Fessler said he has received $50 from Powell, but not the remaining $150.

The claim also requests Powell to pay $45 in court costs needed to file the claim. Court costs amount to $23 and the summons fee amounts to $22, Fessler said. A Dec. 8 court date has been set.

“He (Powell) owes me money for when I was working on his campaign. He promised to pay,” Fessler said.

Powell could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Fessler said he was the president of “Northern Illinois Students for Powell” at the time of election. He said he offered to work for Powell’s campaign and had made a verbal agreement with Powell concerning wages and a bonus if Powell won the election.

Fessler said he did “a lot work on Powell’s campaign.” He said his work consisted of “knocking on doors” in the residence halls.

Fessler said he decided to file the complaint because “I gave him (Powell) enough time (to pay me back). I’ve talked to him (Powell) on the phone several times.” Fessler said he was in DeKalb to take care of other legal business when he decided to file suit against Powell.

“I’m handling it (the complaint) in small claims court to resolve it,” Fessler said. “(Powell) just seemed to have dumped (me) behind after the election,” he said.

Fessler said Powell told him that he would be paid a “fair” amount.