Commission approves multiple consent orders resolving campaign‑reporting violations

The Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission approved a package of consent orders March 24 resolving campaign‑finance reporting violations by multiple individuals.

The commission took a single vote to approve consent orders for items listed under agenda item 4. Staff presented the settlements as negotiated resolutions in which respondents cooperated and in several cases corrected filings before or after the complaint.

Notable consent orders approved on the record included: - Stephanie Warmoth (case 24-0115-C), identified as the successful candidate for Villa Rica City Council Ward 3 in 2023: staff said Warmoth failed to file a termination statement and agreed to $125 in late fees and a $125 civil penalty (total $250). - Leslie McPherson (case 24-0112-C), identified as a former Villa Rica council member who later became mayor: staff said McPherson agreed she had five CCDR violations and failed to file a termination statement; the settlement listed $750 in late fees and $500 in civil penalties (total $1,000). - Vivian Thomas (case 24-0036-C), identified as a former Henry County commissioner and candidate: staff said Thomas had PFDS and CCDR deficiencies and reporting omissions discovered in an audit, and agreed to $1,750 in late fees and $1,250 in civil penalties (total $3,000). - Carmel (Gumbs) (case 24-0100-C), identified as a successful candidate for South Fulton City Council District 2 in 2021: staff reported multiple PFDS and CCDR violations, plus omitted expenditures totaling $12,686.23; the settlement listed $1,125 in late fees and $1,375 in civil penalties (total $2,500). - Gil McDougall (case 24-0110-C): staff said he had six CCDR violations and agreed to $750 in late fees and a $250 civil penalty (total $1,000). - Adrian Simmons (case 25-0017-C), Gwinnett County Board of Education District 4: staff said Simmons failed to file calendar-year PFDS reports for 2022 and 2023 and agreed to $250 in late fees and $125 in civil penalties (total $375). - Elena Reeves (cases listed as third‑party complaints): staff reported cooperation and agreed to a $750 civil penalty to resolve five violations (two PFDS and three CCDRs) related to Clayton County campaign filings. - Benny Crane (case 24-0093-C), South Fulton city council candidate: staff reported three CCDR violations and said Crane cooperated; the settlement was a $450 civil penalty.

Commissioners asked staff about settlement practices, including when late fees are listed separately and whether electronic signatures on consent orders are acceptable; staff said combining fees into a single civil‑penalty figure is an internal practice and that accepting electronic signatures is permissible when the individual indicates the signature is theirs.

The chair called the question on the package motion and the commission recorded the motion as carrying; no separate roll-call votes were recorded on the consolidated consent‑orders vote.

A member of the public who identified herself as a Henry County Board of Ethics representative spoke during the meeting to note that local ethics boards had also heard matters involving one respondent (Vivian Thomas) and described different local remedies available under local codes. Staff and commissioners discussed jurisdictional limits and said Title 21 enforcement falls to the state commission.