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State Ethics Commission approves multiple consent orders resolving late-filing cases
Summary
At its March 24 meeting the commission approved a package of consent orders resolving cases involving late campaign disclosure and financial disclosure filings; penalties ranged from $250 to $3,000 and staff reported some respondents cooperated and filed missing reports.
The State Ethics Commission voted on March 24, 2025 to approve a series of consent orders resolving a number of campaign disclosure and personal financial disclosure deficiencies. Commissioners approved the package on a single voice vote after staff presented each negotiated resolution and offered respondents an opportunity to speak.
Commission staff presented consent orders for candidates or former officeholders with case numbers and agreed penalties as follows (as presented by staff):
- Case 24-0115-C, Stephanie Warmoth (Villa Rica City Council Ward 3, 2023 cycle): 1 violation for failing to timely file a termination statement; agreed penalty $250 ($125 late fees, $125 civil penalty).
- Case 24-0112-C, Leslie McPherson (Villa Rica council, later mayor, 2023 cycle): 5 CCDR violations plus failure to timely file a termination statement; agreed penalty $1,000 ($750 late fees, $250 civil penalty listed in staff presentation then described as $500 civil penalty in summary—staff explanation: $750 late fees and $500 civil penalty for total $1,000 per staff summary). (Note: staff presented the penalty as $750 late fees and $500 civil penalty totaling $1,000.)
- Case 24-0036-C, Vivian Thomas (Henry County Commissioner, multiple cycles): PFDS and CCDR deficiencies and reporting omissions; staff presented an agreed resolution of $3,000 ($1,750 late fees; $1,250 civil penalties) after staff said some late filings predated the complaint.
- Case 24-0100-C, Carmelithic (listed as "Miss Gums" in staff remarks; South Fulton City Council District 2, 2021 cycle): three PFDS violations, six CCDR violations, and omitted expenditures totaling $12,686.23; agreed penalty $2,500 ($1,125 late fees; $1,375 civil penalties).
- Case 24-0110-C, Gil McDougall (candidate, 2019 and 2023 cycles): six CCDR violations; agreed penalty $1,000 ($750 late fees; $250 civil penalty).
- Case 25-0017-C, Adrian Simmons (Gwinnett County Board of Education District 4, 2022 cycle): two PFDS violations (2022 and 2023); agreed penalty $375 ($250 late fees; $125 civil penalty per staff presentation summary).
- Case 24-0024-C / 204-0081-C, Elena Reeves (Clayton County Commissioner, District 1, 2024 cycle): five violations (two PFDS, three CCDRs); staff reported the respondent cooperated, filed missing reports, and agreed to a $750 civil penalty; Reeves addressed the commission to note local technical difficulties with the Clayton County Elections Office’s uploads during the relevant period.
- Case 24-0093-C, Benny Crane (South Fulton City Council candidate): three CCDR violations; agreed civil penalty reported as $454.
After presentation and brief public comment on some items, the chair moved to approve the consent orders listed in item 4 of the agenda (staff identified the included letters during the motion). The commission approved the batch motion by voice vote; the chair called for “aye” and none were voiced in opposition.
Staff and commissioners asked questions about signature protocols and practices: some consent orders carried electronic signatures. Staff said they accept electronic signatures when the filer has authenticated the signature and there is evidence the individual intended the signature; commissioners asked whether internal rules require wet signatures, and staff reported no internal rule prohibiting acceptance of electronic signatures for consent orders.
Commission staff also explained their typical approach to calculating late fees and civil penalties: late fees are statutory ($125 each) and civil penalties are negotiated based on campaign size and cooperation; staff sometimes consolidates late fees and civil penalties into one block amount in escalated attorney-handled settlements.
The commission then moved to administrative dismissals and other agenda items.
