Georgia ethics panel finally ending years-long backlog of cases

Three years ago the state agency in charge of policing the ethics of Georgia politicians and lobbyists was a mess, with few staffers and a backlog of more than 150 cases, some dating to before the Great Recession.

This past week the agency's executive secretary, Stefan Ritter, told the ethics commission that the backlog had mostly been eliminated.

There are still a few back cases the state is seeking to collect money on. And the long-running ethics complaints against former gubernatorial hopeful and Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine are still being fought in the courts.

But Ritter said a couple of consent agreements involving candidates with cases dating to 2010 and 2012 last Wednesday largely wrapped up the lengthy backlog of cases he and his staff have plowed through.

The commission for years was plagued by three years of litigation, accusations of dirty dealing and back-stabbing among staff. Whistleblower lawsuits from former employees forced the state to pay out millions of dollars, with the most prominent case coming from a former executive director. For long periods of time, little in the way of handling ethics complaints was actually getting done.

For more on the backlog, see myajc.com.

About the Author

Flight delays likely ‘only going to get worse,’ Transportation head says

The U.S. will stop flights if the air traffic controller shortage leads to safety concerns, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says in TV interviews.

Georgia parks raise parking fees — and more price hikes could be on the way

Georgia will boost state park entrance fees in January, and an audit suggests more price hikes could be coming.

Volunteers provide food amid uncertainty over SNAP benefits

Advocates for the hungry across metro Atlanta told similar stories this week as the Trump administration prepared to freeze SNAP benefits amid a federal government shutdown.

The Latest

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Flight delays likely ‘only going to get worse,’ Transportation head says

Georgia parks raise parking fees — and more price hikes could be on the way

Volunteers provide food amid uncertainty over SNAP benefits

Featured

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

6 report injuries after MARTA buses collide at DeKalb station

A MARTA spokesperson says six passengers are claiming they were hurt when two buses collided as one was pulling out of a stall at Kensington Station.

Georgia parks raise parking fees — and more price hikes could be on the way

Georgia will boost state park entrance fees in January, and an audit suggests more price hikes could be coming.

MARTA and Beltline rail two big transportation items on mayor’s agenda

While reaffirming his commitment to building light rail along the Beltline, Mayor Dickens says the first segment should go where transportation needs are greatest: SW Atlanta.