The Georgia Ethics Commission addressed a significant campaign finance issue during its meeting on September 17, 2025, clarifying the requirements for filing Disclosure of Interest (DOI) forms in municipal elections. The discussion centered around a recent case involving a local candidate, Mr. Bourgeois, whose campaign mistakenly believed they had fulfilled their filing obligations.

Mr. Bourgeois filed his DOI with the local municipal clerk on April 18, 2025, after initially submitting it incorrectly on March 1, 2025. The commission determined that this was an honest error, with no intent to bypass the law. The records provided by Mr. Bourgeois were noted to be well-prepared, especially in comparison to other submissions reviewed by the commission.

Commissioner Thompson raised questions about the filing process, noting that the DOI should typically be filed alongside the campaign's Report of Contributions (RC) electronically with the Ethics Commission. The confusion stemmed from the current filing system, which is set to be replaced, leading to misunderstandings about the requirements.

The commission confirmed that Mr. Bourgeois had already paid the penalty associated with the violation, and they requested that the matter be considered resolved. This case highlights the importance of clear communication regarding campaign finance regulations, especially as the commission prepares to implement a new filing system aimed at reducing such errors in the future.