Mayor

heading to court.

A hearing on Thursday was supposed to determine whether the panel had reason to believe Bottoms’ campaign violated the law. If so, it would have forwarded the case to the Georgia State Office of Administrative Hearings, where a judge could fine the campaign or negotiate a compromise.

The commission alleged in December that Bottoms’ 2017 mayoral campaign accepted $382,773 in contributions from individuals that exceeded the maximum allowable under state law — allegations the campaign has denied.

Emadi said the commission spent six months negotiating with the campaign over bank records for which it had issued a subpoena.

Bottoms raised more than $2.7 million in a race that became one of the most expensive mayoral campaigns in the city’s history.

The commission agreed to continue the case until its next meeting on Dec. 10.

Former Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, Bottoms’ opponent in the 2017 runoff election, was also charged with accepting donations that surpassed the state limits. In August, Norwood, admitted to accepting $80,750 in improper campaign contributions.

Norwood, who raised more than $2.1 million during the race, paid a $27,000 fine to settle those charges — a penalty that ethics commission Chairman Jake Evans acknowledged was relatively steep.

CONTRIBUTED One of the 59 cats found living in a Sandy Springs condo.