The state’s ethics board says Atlanta mayoral candidate Ceasar Mitchell failed to disclose almost $300,000 in campaign expenditures and contributions related to last year’s bid for city council president.
Mitchell is accused of receiving more than $34,000 in undisclosed campaign contributions during his run for the city council seat.
He also is alleged to have failed to report expenditures of more than $252,000, including almost $53,000 paid to Keisha Carter and her firm, Razor Consulting, for managing his campaign.
A spokeswoman for Mitchell said the councilman was late filing the disclosures and looks forward to clearing up the allegations. A hearing is set for March 23.
“We respect the process of the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission,” Mitchell’s attorney Frank Strickland said in a statement. “We will continue our ongoing dialogue on this matter with the Commission staff. We look forward to a speedy and favorable resolution.”
This is the second time the commission, also known as the ethics board, has investigated Mitchell’s fundraising. Last March, the board accused Mitchell of using campaign cash to buy Atlanta Falcons tickets, among other things.
Mitchell has been the top fundraiser so far among a crowded field hoping to replace Kasim Reed to become Atlanta’s next mayor. Mitchell said he had raised $1.26 million in the most recent campaign reporting period, according to financial disclosures.
He was followed by Peter Aman, Reed’s former chief operating officer, who said he raised $1.039 million.
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