Forsyth candidate Amos replies to ethics complaint

By Christopher Quinn

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pete Amos, a Republican running for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, responded to a state ethics complaint this week by listing 67 pieces of property he left off his disclosure form.

He received notice of the complaint filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission Tuesday, he said. A woman who lives in Fulton County but has had business interests in Forsyth County filed the complaint pointing out his incomplete listings.

Amos, who served nearly seven years on Forsyth County's Planning Commission, said Friday he had listed two of his companies that own the properties, but did not list the properties themselves because he did not know he was supposed to. Amos owns rental properties and several businesses. When he ran unsuccessfully in 2006 for the county commission, he listed only his companies and he was not called into question, he said. He faxed an amended disclosure form to the state commission.

Political candidates in Georgia must file disclosures that list their assets, including property, so that the public will know what candidates' interest are.

Stacey Kalberman, the Executive Secretary of the State Ethics Commission, said in an earlier interview that with only ten workers in her office, it is difficult to check every disclosure form from hundreds of candidates in each election cycle. They depend on tips from those in the community to check into violations.

The ethics commission usually holds a preliminary hearing to decide if there was a violation of the state ethics act. If there reason to believe a violation has occurred, the complaint moves to an administrative hearing.

Kalberman said violations of the act can be resolved by candidates fixing the problem, and in more egregious cases, fines can be leveled.

Amos is running against candidate Brant Meadows, who is a member of the county Planning Commission, for an open seat.