State ethics commission finds reasonable grounds in three campaign-finance preliminary hearings

The Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission voted Dec. 13, 2024, that reasonable grounds exist to pursue enforcement in three preliminary hearing matters involving candidates Nicole Jones, Grama (Miss) Demitt and Joe Ray Jenkins. The commission's motions move each case forward for administrative proceedings or possible referral to the Office of State Administrative Hearings.

The commission voted, without recorded roll-call tallies in the public transcript, on multiple separate alleged violations in each matter. The motions were presented by commission staff attorneys and carried after brief discussion; the chair called for voice votes (“All in favor, say aye.”) and announced each motion as carried.

Nicole Jones (case 24-0054-C): Staff alleged failures to file multiple election-year campaign contribution disclosure reports (CCDRs), a required personal financial disclosure statement (PFDS) covering calendar year 2023, and failure to maintain a separate campaign depository account. Staff told the commission they received an email from Jones on Dec. 10 advising of an alleged scheduling conflict with two criminal cases, but staff confirmed with the presiding judge that those cases were not called this week and recommended proceeding. Staff also reported limited subpoena returns: an apparent law‑firm account used by Jones, bank entries the investigator estimated at roughly $6,000–$7,000 in activity they associated with campaign spending, a newspaper ad costing “almost $1,000,” more than two 4-by-4 signs and more than 100 yard signs observed in the county. The commission found reasonable grounds that Jones violated OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A) (CCDRs), OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(B) (primary-runoff CCDR), OCGA 21-5-50 (PFDS), and OCGA 21-5-30(c) (separate depository account).

Grama (Miss) Demitt (case 24-0087-C): Staff reported Demitt qualified March 8, 2024, filed an April 30 CCDR of all zeros, and failed to file subsequent CCDRs (June 30, Sept. 30, Oct. 25) and a PFDS. Staff said a subpoena to the campaign produced no response. The commission voted that reasonable grounds exist for the cited CCDR and PFDS violations (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A) and OCGA 21-5-50).

Joe Ray Jenkins (case 24-0069-C): Staff alleged five violations, including failure to file the calendar-year 2023 PFDS (OCGA 21-5-50), late or missing CCDRs (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A)), failure to open or maintain a separate campaign depository account (OCGA 21-5-30(c)), and failure to report campaign contributions or expenditures (OCGA 21-5-34(b)). Staff described social‑media evidence of yard signs, T-shirts and other campaign expenditures not reflected on filings; staff told the commission Jenkins repeatedly declined to produce bank records and told staff by phone he did not have a dedicated campaign account. The commission found reasonable grounds on all five alleged violations.

Why this matters: A “reasonable grounds” finding is a procedural threshold the commission uses to forward a matter to later stages of enforcement, including a hearing before an administrative law judge or referral to the attorney general for collection of civil penalties. In several of the cases staff said subpoenas returned little or no financial records, which increases the likelihood of further discovery and possible additional charges if more records are later located.

Next steps: Each case will proceed under the commission’s enforcement process. Staff and commissioners noted the commission may later amend complaints or add charges if additional evidence emerges; staff repeatedly said they could file additional allegations later if new records arrive.