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Mayor Naheed Nenshi racked up nearly $300,000 in legal fees fighting a $6-million defamation lawsuit filed by home builder Cal Wenzel, according to his office.

In a statement released Tuesday, city solicitor Glenda Cole confirmed the city has now paid the $299,728.59 invoice, an amount the mayor will now have to pay back through fundraising efforts.

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Nenshi was not available for comment Tuesday.

In a separate letter, the mayor wrote to the city’s new ethics adviser, Alice Woolley, proposing a framework before he begins soliciting funds to pay down the legal bill. There are currently no guidelines in place around fundraising activities outside of normal campaign solicitations for council members.

“As a longtime advocate for campaign finance reform, transparency, and accountability, the mayor would like to see rules in place prior to commencing fundraising,” according to the statement from his office.