As voters head to the polls today in the special primary, many will never know what resources are behind three of the men running for House District 129.
Two, Karlton Howard and Davis Green, have now been fined $125 for not filing the campaign report due 15 days prior to an election. The third, Brad Owens, hasn’t filed anything at all, according to the state’s reporting system.
Only one, IT project manager Scott Cambers, met state deadlines for filing his campaign contribution and personal financial disclosure reports in the special primary.
Cambers said he’s made creating transparency in government a key point in his campaign.
“Citizens are in the dark when candidates do not disclose where their funding comes from or how they spend their money,” Cambers said. “When your name is on the ballot, it is important to put in the effort to keep voters informed.”
MORE: House District 129 profile: Karlton Howard
The eighteen polling places in House District 129 are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today for voters to make their choice. If none of the candidates gets more than 50% of voters, the contest goes to a Jan. 17 runoff.
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission is the state entity saddled with enforcing state campaign laws. A spokeswoman confirmed that candidates must file a personal financial disclosure report within 15 days of qualifying to run for office and a campaign contribution disclosure report 15 days prior to the special primary but would not comment further.
Cambers’ report revealed that as of Dec. 5, he’d raised and spent $6,567.66 of his own funds in pursuit of the seat. His largest purchase was an order of signs and bumper stickers.
Howard, the brother of Rep. Wayne Howard, whose Oct. 13 death in office prompted the special primary, said he said he had an email from the state office stating his paperwork was in order.
“My last email was Dec. 9 saying everything was approved and in the system’,” Howard said.
The state system shows Howard as filing one of the required forms, the personal financial disclosure. It lists fiduciary positions Howard holds as CEO and CFO of the gospel show Parade of Quartets and his occupation as pastor of Noah’s Ark Missionary Baptist Church.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
