Georgia lawmakers recently submitted their campaign finance reports for the period beginning July 1, 2021 and ending January 31, 2022. Though none crossed the threshold for misuse, a few could raise an eyebrow or two.
State Rep. Debra Bazemore (Democrat – Riverdale, GA) paid $5,000 to the Georgia Leadership Committee in Washington, D.C. for ‘caucus dues,’ at least five times the highest “dues” amount paid by any other Democrat.
State Rep. James Burchett (Republican – Waycross, GA) paid $2,100 to the Ware County Touchdown Club. He was upstaged only by Rep. Ed Setzler of Marietta, who paid $1,500 to the North Cobb High School Boosters.
State Rep. Beth Camp (Republican – Concord, GA) used $427.99 for a Yeti Cooler for a Raffle at a fundraiser and $360 to buy a book to give out to all House members.
State Rep. John Corbett used his campaign funds to pay his insurance on the contents of his condo during legislative session
State Rep. Matt Dubnik (Republican – Gainesville, GA) donated $1,000 to Ducks Unlimited in Tennessee.
State Rep. Joseph Gullett used campaign funds to pay to board his dogs overnight so he could attend the fundraiser of another lawmaker.
State Rep. Susan Holmes used her campaign funds to pay an ethics fine ($125) for filing her campaign finance report late. A $299 expenditure for OnStar membership was also paid.
State Rep. Trey Kelley of Cedartown (Polk County) pays for housing in Atlanta 12 months out of the year.
State Representative Dominic LaRiccia (Republican – Douglas, GA) [Report]
LaRiccia billed his campaign fund $3,779 for fuel over a 6-month period and $2,568.51 in Verizon Wireless charges.
But the grander reason LaRiccia makes the list? He sent $35,150 in campaign funds to other politicians (most of which was done before redistricting and before he announced he wouldn’t seek re-election):
- $2,500 – Tyler Harper for Georgia Ag Commissioner
- $5,100 – Harper for Georgia, Inc.
- $2,800 – Rep Clay Pirkle (Ashburn)
- $2,500 – Rep. John Corbett (Lake Park)
- $2,500 Rep. Trey Rhodes (Greensboro)
- $2,000 – Rep. Jason Ridley (Chatsworth)
- $1,500 – Rep. Jodi Lott (Augusta)
- $1,000 – Burchett for House (Waycross)
- $500 – Speaker David Ralston
- $500 – Rep. John LaHood (Valdosta)
- $500 – Rep. DeWayne Hill (Ringgold)
- $500 – Brad for Georgia
- $500 – Rep. Don Parsons (Marietta)
- $500 – Rep. John Carson (Marietta)
- $500 – Rep. Shaw Blackmon (Bonaire)
- $500 – Crowe for Georgia
- $500 – Rep. Matthew Gambill (Cartersville)
- $500 – Rep. Marcus Wiedower (Watkinsville)
- $500 – Rep. Alan Powell (Hartwell)
- $500 – Rep. Victor Anderson (Cornelia)
- $500 – Rep. Noel Williams (Cordele)
- $500 – David Jenkins for State House (Grantville)
- $500 – Rep. Houston Gaines (Athens)
- $500 – Friends of Russ Goodman
- $500 – Rep. Martin Momtahan (Dallas)
- $500 – Rep. David Jenkins (Grantville)
- $500 – Rep. Matt Dollar (Marietta)
- $500 – Rep. Chris Erwin
- $500 – Friends of Pruitt
- $250 – Meagan Hanson for U.S. House (Brookhaven)
- $1,000 – Georgia House Republican Trust
Sen. John F. Kennedy was right behind LaRiccia in donations to other politicians with $29,000 shared over the last six months. Though the average donation to lawmakers was just over $1,500, Kennedy also donated $250 to the Peach County Sheriff’s Deputy Fund.
Both doled out more than the House Majority Leader, Jon Burns, who shelled out $22,000 to other politicians.
State Rep. Jodi Lott (Republican – Augusta) paid $1,250 to a law firm for ‘legal defense’ in December 2021. Sen. Matt Brass had her beat, though, when he paid $2,500 in legal fees.
State Rep. Mark Newton shelled out $6,172.84 for ‘event catering’ at Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville, SC.
State Rep. Trey Rhodes paid $198 for pest control services in his district office.
Sen. Brian Strickland didn’t have any abnormal expenditures, but his report was filed late and the reason listed was he was ‘serving in the Georgia Senate.’ The reports are due the same week of the month every year and all of the other Senators managed to get theirs filed.
Sen. Valencia Seay used her funds to make a donation to a GoFundMe Memorial account.
