A Rome man known for filing ethics complaints has turned his attention to the Gwinnett County Sheriff and Commissioner Lorraine Green, alleging they used taxpayer money and county staff for political purposes.

Green and Sheriff Butch Conway say the accusations are false and their filing is a political maneuver before next week's election.

George Anderson, executive director of the Ethics in Government Group, delivered his written complaints on Monday afternoon to Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter's office.

Anderson alleges that Conway and Green violated state law by using "taxpayer ink & paper" and county employees to print campaign materials for Green's race to unseat Charles Bannister as chair of the Board of Commissioners.

Anderson also alleges Conway violated state law by actively campaigning for Green:

"On Saturday/ March 1, 2008, Sheriff Conway appeared at a monthly political party Breakfast Meeting," he writes in the complaint, "along with 2 Gwinnett County employees, and proceeded to give hand-outs to the citizens at the Meeting."

Anderson alleges Conway violated state law by using Sheriff's Department personnel to erect 250 campaign signs on Green's behalf.

Conway acknowledged handing out flyers at the Republican Party breakfast, however he said they were about the jail's new immigration policy. He also admitted to erecting campaign signs, along with other deputies, but Conway said they were not on the clock at the time.

"I do support Lorraine Green," Conway said. "She's earned my support and the support of law enforcement, and the deputies have every right to support someone in a political campaign [when] off-duty."

Anderson accuses Green of violating her "Oath of Office" by receiving the assistance of Gwinnett County employees on the taxpayer's dime.

Green said she is proud to have the support of many county employees. She said people don't forfeit their First Amendment right to campaign for whomever they wish in their free time just because they happen to be county employees.

"This has got to be one of the worst examples of campaign smear, rumor and innuendo I've ever seen," Green said. "How this man from Rome, Ga., can mysteriously file a complaint seven days before an election, this is something I believe the citizens of this county are going to see right through."

Gwinnett County's ethics ordinance requires citizens to hand-deliver a complaint, in writing, to the district attorney. Anderson said he plans to file similar complaints with the state ethics commission and Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

Porter, the district attorney, said his only role would be to "transmit the complaint to the foreman" of the grand jury, who would form an ethics committee to investigate each complaint.

Each committee would consist of two members of the grand jury, Porter said, and one person appointed by the subject of the complaint.

Anderson is a self-styled ethics watchdog who has filed complaints against a range of individuals in all levels of government. In February, he filed ethics complaints against House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and Superior Court Judge James Osborne for the manner in which the speaker's divorce proceedings were handled and immediately sealed.