Council leader faces complaint

Campaign finance violations alleged against Ceasar Mitchell.

A 14-page complaint claiming Atlanta Council President Ceasar Mitchell has committed multiple campaign finance violations has been filed with the Georgia ethics commission.

The complaint, filed with the Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, alleges a host of violations: from spending campaign finance cash on Atlanta Falcons tickets and accepting speaker fees in excess of state limits, to failing to register his Political Action Committee and using campaign funds to reimburse himself for unrelated expenses.

The complaint was filed last month, just days before Mitchell declared his intention to run for mayor in 2017.

Mitchell, who has 30 days to respond, said the complaint is “completely without merit.”

“We’re going to respect the process that is set forth by the Ethics Commission and respond in accordance with the law when the time comes,” Mitchell said. “We’re confident that we’ll be shown to be in full compliance.”

Mitchell is the fifth candidate to officially declare for next year’s mayoral race. Two others have significant political experience: State Rep. Margaret Kaiser and Georgia Equality lobbyist and former Atlanta Council President Cathy Woolard. The other candidates are Kimberly Sue Johnson Obasuyi and Debra Ann Hampton, according to the Atlanta Municipal Clerk’s Office.

The complaint is dated March 25; Mitchell officially entered the mayor’s race April 6.

“It’s political silly season,” Mitchell said. “The timing (of the complaint) speaks for itself.”