9 JUL 08: THAT LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA
When election time comes, it seems anything goes. Every small detail about a candidate can be grounds for accusations -- and we've already seen it this year, haven't we? We're waiting for Sheriff Ralph Johnson to release the results of an investigation into his opponents' families.
BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Our campaign focus today is on candidate financial reports -- but NOT really the reports. Your blog has discovered a local state lawmaker has failed to file required affidavits with his reports for two solid years. And you can file them online, so you can't blame it on a defective stapler.
Before we reveal the name of this two-year violator, let's tell you who it is NOT. It's NOT the State Senator who has been under a lot of heat lately in our InBox -- even though that heat led us to this topic:
Richard,
I enjoyed reading your blog post this morning regarding the LOST and other issues. I did want to briefly mention a couple of other items relevant to Senator Harbison.
The reason I wanted to know if you had called the number is to confirm that Senator Harbison's phone number was printed on this flyer. That would appear to show that someone affiliated with Senator Harbison distributed the flyers.
I do not believe that an Ed Harbison sign was ever placed in Ms. Kirby's yard. Ms. Kirby called the number to make it clear she did not want an Ed Harbison sign placed in her yard. Unlike the claim in the flyer, Senator Harbison nor any member of his campaign had received authorization from Ms. Kirby to place a sign in her yard. It was after she called and made it clear she did not want a sign in her yard that her vehicle was vandalized.
The point I was trying to make regarding criminal trespass is that if one of your readers received this note and later a sign was placed on their yard without their permission, it is still criminal trespass.
Now on an entirely separate matter involving Senator Harbison:
You would think that Senator Harbison would have learned over a decade of serving in the State Senate and having had multiple ethics complaints filed against him over his campaign finance reports the proper procedures for filing such reports.
However, he has failed for his December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008 disclosures, among others, to file the required affidavit that is to accompany all electronic filings....
Obviously, you can see that Senator Harbison has filed the affidavit on several occasions, so he must know it is required. Does this mean those reports that did not have the affidavit are not complete and he did not want to swear under oath that the reports were complete? Or is it another case of "sloppy bookeeping"?
Anyway, I just thought you would want to know this in conjunction with all of the other problems that he has complying with the Ethics in Government Act.
Regards,
Josh McKoon
Let's focus on that "separate matter" first -- and oh dear. Does Josh McKoon really want me to call Ed Harbison again?!? I'll never get invited to appear on "Public Agenda" this way.
We can't really copy and paste the partial results Josh McKoon sent us here. But the Georgia Ethics Commission web site allows you to check the reports of candidates - and indeed, Ed Harbison has a mixed record. Out of eight reports filed since March 2006, four show an "affidavit filed" and four say "affidavit required." Apparently they don't play by Ken Nugent rules - one call, that's all.
(By the way, one of those reports shows the "Committee to Elect Ed Harbison" paid $5,400 in March to a Columbus accounting firm. But it apparently didn't pay any lawyers, who could have reminded him about those other forms.)
But the Georgia Ethics Commission database invited me to check campaign records for other local officials and candidates. Take Ed Harbison's opponent next week. Reginald Pugh has filed seven reports since 2006 - and all are marked "Report Submitted." They say nothing at all about affidavits. Are challengers presumed unable to afford trips to a notary public?
(One of the Reginald Pugh reports shows he's lent more than $700 to his campaign committee, from his own funds. I was a bit surprised to find Josh McKoon hasn't donated Pugh's campaign a dime.)
Muscogee County District Attorney Gray Conger filed his latest campaign contribution report Tuesday. It's listed on the Georgia Ethics Commission web site as "Affidavit Required"-- so the court clerk's office might expect a visit from Conger today.
Several attorneys have donated to District Attorney Gray Conger's campaign - along with an interesting $500 donation from Judge Doug Pullen. Where's the money for defense lawyers, Mr. Unbiased Judge? Will there be a drawing in the courtroom one day next year, to have a suspect's bond reduced?
(We should note District Attorney opponent Julia Slater also had an "Affidavit Required" note on her campaign reports. So it appears challengers need them, too. And it would be only fitting if potential prosecutors also filed video depositions.)
So we browsed around the Georgia Ethics Commission database, and came upon the official who has filed NO affidavits in two years -- batting none-for-nine. He's Rep. Vance Smith, whose district includes part of north Columbus. Perhaps Josh McKoon didn't bother checking on him - because they're both Republicans.
Vance Smith is unopposed for another term in the Georgia House. Yet he has a campaign committee, and his latest report shows it paid more than $2,000 to American Express last week for "travel expenses." That drive to Atlanta to file qualifying papers may have included side trips to Phipps Plaza and Ikea.
So why call Ed Harbison about his missing affidavits, when I can call the worst offender of all? We phoned Vance Smith's home late Tuesday for a comment on this, but our message was NOT returned. At least Harbison took the time to call me back -- twice.
To borrow from Josh McKoon's e-mail, you would think that Vance Smith would have learned over 16 years of serving in the State House about the proper procedures for filing campaign finance reports. Smith had better rectify this lack of affidavits - before McKoon suggests Reginald Pugh buy a home in Harris County and run against him.
By the way, it was Reginald Pugh's turn to appeal to the voters on WRBL Tuesday. He offered several reasons why you select him for State Senator....
+ He'll provide "consistency." If Republicans offer him committee chairmanships the way they have Ed Harbison, he'll consistently turn them down.
+ He'll work for affordable health care -- perhaps a PeachCare card in every wallet, or an aspirin in every medicine cabinet.
+ He'll go even farther, and work to "make Georgia affordable." Let's make everything like the Columbus Museum - absolutely free.
And about Josh McKoon's first point: Has anyone planted an Ed Harbison campaign sign on a lawn without permission? If someone has, no one's contacted us about it. If so, have they gone to District Attorney Gray Conger about it? He's every bit as Republican as Josh McKoon is - well, for the last four years.
>> Our latest blog deals with Columbus poker, and a whole lot more. Visit the all-new "On the Flop!" <<
E-MAIL UPDATE: Now for our next bout, as a man who wrote us about the write-in candidate for Muscogee County Sheriff answers Mark LaJoye's response of Monday:
Mr. LaJoye says that maybe I'm "one of those law breakers." Maybe I am. Or maybe I'm a concerned citizen who calls 911 when I see a drug deal or domestic violence situation or someone snooping where they don't belong. If that's the case then how can he be "the only one around here that cares for his neighborhood?"
Any neighborhood must have its residents look out for one another if it's going to keep crime out. So regardless of whether or not he wins the election, I hope he continues to care. I know I will(even if I do vote for Sheriff Johnson.)
Then I guess I'm guilty - because I never called 911 about the apartment next door, before last week's drug raid. I thought the swimming pool the neighbor inflated for his children actually had water in it. I never would have guessed that was liquified meth.
Matters of law enforcement top our review of the Tuesday news:
+ Columbus Police reported a Wachovia bank branch on 18th Street was robbed - for the second time in two weeks. Someone apparently decided the bank received its money back, after the first robber was arrested.
+ The Hurtsboro City Council planned to discuss the arrest of its police chief - except it didn't have enough members on hand for a quorum. The others were either in Union Springs investigating that club, or in Phenix City applying for job openings with Russell County.
(Constable Robert Schweiger told WRBL the arrest of Chief Marvin Christian could be "strike one" in favor of dissolving Hurtsboro. That's strange - from the e-mails he's sent us, the town ran out of "nine lives" several months ago.)
+ The evening news reported one of Phenix City's two public swimming pools finally will open today. They've been locked since last fall, because of a lack of trained lifeguards. Is Phenix City that short on young adults who look good in swimwear -- AND can swim?
+ Northern and American won the Little League district titles, in major and minor baseball. American's All-Stars topped Thomasville Rose Hill by a two-game combined score of 55-2. The Rose Hill players can expect sympathy cards from the Spencer High School baseball team.
+ Former Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick filed bankruptcy papers, claiming debts in the tens of millions of dollars. How much has he been gambling, while in that Kansas prison? Or are his attorney's fees that steep?
+ A Macon County, Alabama convenience store showed off his gas pumps on the evening news. All of them warn customers if they drive off without paying for their gas, they will be "shot at." If this store was part of the Cowboys chain, I could understand it....
+ Instant Message to Zelmo's on Wynnton Road: How are you doing it? You're usually on the high end of gas prices - but you held tough Tuesday at $3.90 a gallon. Is this your plan for receiving a "Red Cross Hero" award?
Today's main topic was inspired by a blog reader's tip. To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.
BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 776 (+ 14, 1.8%)
The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.
© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.