By Joe Johnson
A campaign finance complaint was recently filed that alleges state Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-119) illegally accepted $15,000 in campaign contribution while the state General Assembly was in session earlier this year.
According to the complaint, filed Sept. 8 with the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Committee, Wiedower accepted 21 campaign donations between Jan. 17 and 23, during the state house session that began Jan. 13.
According to Georgia Code O.C.G.A. 21-5-35, “No member of the General Assembly or that member’s campaign committee...shall seek or accept a contribution or a pledge of a contribution to the member, the member’s campaign committee...during a legislative session.
The complaint was filed by Bruce Menke, a member of Athens-Clarke County Democrats.
“It is essential that there be a level playing field for all candidates running for elective office,” Menke said Monday. “An essential aspect of ensuring this is the requirement that all candidates submit reports concerning the donations they receive and that the reports are available to the public. If a voter becomes aware, from the public reports, of an apparent concern, I think it is very important to report it to the proper authority for investigation.”
Menke said he got his information from a campaign finance disclosure report that Wiedower filed with the state on Feb. 7.
Wiedower in a first-term incumbent who is being challenged by Democrat Jonathan Wallace.
He did not respond to a request for comment by Classic City News.
District 119 includes parts of Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties.