A Minneapolis City Council candidate has accused Mayor R.T. Rybak of listing a council member as a supporter on campaign literature without the written permission required by state law.

Dave Bicking, a Green Party endorsee for the Ninth Ward council seat, filed the complaint Tuesday. He said Rybak listed Green-endorsed Council Member Cam Gordon as a supporter as far back as March but lacked Gordon's formal authorization.

Gordon confirmed Thursday that he didn't write an authorization until Wednesday. He said he waited until a Green gathering over the weekend didn't endorse a mayoral candidate.

The state Office of Administrative Hearings notified Bicking in a determination dated Wednesday that he had presented what seemed to be an obvious violation of the law, and ordered a hearing to be held within 90 days. The violation would be a misdemeanor.

Rybak campaign manager Jaclyn Urness said Thursday there had been "an honest misunderstanding" with Gordon and removed him from its website "as soon as we realized our mistake."

But Bicking complained that the campaign continued to use a piece of literature that listed Gordon among dozens of supporters.

Gordon said he supports Rybak because he has led on Green-supported efforts such as reforming city ethics laws and focusing city development more on housing and less on corporations.

But he said he made clear that he wouldn't endorse Rybak until after the Greens endorsed. Gordon said Bicking had a valid complaint and added that he didn't have a hand in it.