The state ethics commission is going after a local candidate for failing to file required reports in what the candidate contends was a $350 campaign for Augusta Commission.
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission voted Friday that reasonable grounds existed that Jo’Rae Jenkins violated the Georgia Campaign Finance Act.
Jenkins, who has run for a commission seat four times, finished third in the District 1 race May 21 with 8% of the vote, behind second-place finisher Matt Aitken. Commissioner Jordan Johnson won reelection outright with 56% of the vote.
The commission itself initiated the complaint against Jenkins last May after she filed a declaration of intent to accept campaign contributions, then failed to file required additional paperwork, said Timothy Baywal, an attorney for the commission. The commission has added additional allegations since then as filings have become due, Baywal said.
The commission is the same agency that pursued multiple complaints against former mayor Hardie Davis for not reporting campaign income or spending. As of August, Davis had paid only $750 of a $16,900 fine. The Augusta Press is seeking updated information about Davis’ record of payment.
Baywal told the commission Friday he informed Jenkins about the hearing, but neither she nor an attorney representing her were present.
Baywal said he reviewed social media to estimate whether Jenkins was spending money on the campaign. Based on screenshots he showed the commission, he believed she’d possibly paid for t-shirts, graphic design and printing work.
Baywal said he’d spoken with Jenkins on the phone 10 times and had dismissed some of his concerns based on explanations she had.
The filings Jenkins did not submit on time included a personal financial disclosure statement, which lists a candidate’s business and real estate interests and is due within 15 days of qualifying. She also failed to timely file campaign contribution disclosure reports due April 30 and June 30, failed to open a required campaign bank account and failed to report campaign contributions and expenditures, according to Baywal.
Jenkins filed the missing personal financial statement and April 30 and June 30 reports in September. Her personal financial statement listed no fiduciary roles or businesses or real estate owned.
Her late April 30 report showed no fundraising or expenditures. Her June 30 report, filed Sept. 6, reported a single contribution of $350 from a Kay Gage and a single expenditure of $350 with Sign Depot. Jenkins also filed a campaign termination statement claiming no fundraising or expenditures.
Baywal said the Richmond County Board of Elections provides candidates with a checklist of the forms that are due, which helps avoid confusion.
