CLEVELAND -- The city's new chief of regional economic development resigned from a previous job over a charge of soliciting a prostitute.

NewsChannel5 reported improving Cleveland's economy through better jobs and better housing has been such an important issue on the table, so the person selected as economic development chief holds enormous responsibility.

The newly named chief is holding pretty seedy baggage as he comes to Cleveland, WEWS reported.

Michael J. Montgomery was sworn in Tuesday as Cleveland's chief of regional development. Less than 24 hours afterward, Mayor Frank Jackson learned he'd been charged with soliciting a prostitute.

The arrest happened in 1999 while Montgomery was director of economic development in Oakland, Calif.

He agreed to pay a woman $10 for a sex act, but the woman turned out to be a police decoy.

Court records show Montgomery, who was then economic director in Oakland, Calif., was charged with soliciting in 1999 but pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of disturbing the peace

Montgomery resigned and took a job in Portland.

Jackson said he had no idea about his past until Montgomery confessed Monday night.

"In spite of all the difficulties that he had in the past, he is still the right person for the job," Jackson said. "He can get the job done."

He added that it's "always best to know things before the fact."

Montgomery was referred by the Beachwood search firm Christian and Timbers.

It's unclear if the firm knew about the arrest.

Phone calls to the search firm and Montgomery were not returned.

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, co-chair of the search committee appointed to select finalists for the job, said the firm Christian & Timbers did not tell him about the arrest.

Another member of the committee, Cleveland State University professor Ned Hill, said the firm was aware of it, but a colleague of Montgomery's told the firm that it was a misunderstanding.