Coweta | News | Peachtree City

Ga. ethics board to hear Brown complaint

Thu, 01/18/2007 - 3:44pm
By: John Munford

Should former mayor have registered as PAC?

Former mayor Steve Brown will face a hearing of the state ethics board Feb. 1 as it hears a complaint about Brown’s campaigning in 2004 against the county’s transportation SPLOST.

Peachtree City resident John Dufresne filed the complaint on behalf of the Direct PAC political action committee, charging that Brown failed to register with the state as a political action committee despite his appearance on a special television show to oppose the SPLOST.

The complaint argues that the TV show, which ran on local access cable channels offered by Comcast, was a benefit and that Brown should have registered as a PAC and thusly reported the contribution.

Brown has previously said he was acting as a private individual and that a text line identifying him on the piece should not have noted he was mayor of Peachtree City. Brown has said he was motivated to tape the TV spot after Comcast aired several times a show from the SPLOST forum hosted by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

Brown, who often clashed with the Chamber during his tenure as mayor, claimed that questions he submitted at the Chamber forum were not asked.

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John Dufresne and Direct PAC
Submitted by Jones on Mon, 01/22/2007 - 12:56pm.

I forgot to mention one point before, does anyone really trust John Dufresne and Direct PAC? Everyone says the Dufresne guy is one step away from a Neanderthal and hasn't everything the Direct PAC said turned out to be a lie? They were huge Harold Logsdon supporters and look where that got us.

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Hypocrisy of the BUM’s Ethics Charges against Brown
abeautifulday4us's picture
Submitted by abeautifulday4us on Sun, 01/21/2007 - 5:25pm.

Funny how the BUM tee shirt guy is complaining about a Brown infomercial about the SPLOST (where PTC was getting it stuck to them). Here is the real hypocrisy---- BUM and his cohorts never said a word about the SPLOST violations by Bob Lenox who was pushing the arts center. Who come you guys let that one slide? That’s what I thought--- its not about ethics…Its about the developer agenda. Kind of a "pick and choose" ethos. Got it.


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Brown's ethical problem
Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Sun, 01/21/2007 - 4:56pm.

This should really be interesting. I remember Brown accusing Lenox of playing fast and loose with what Lenox called the "technical aspects" of the law. No doubt, Mr. Brown will be claiming that since his cause was just - killing the SPLOST - that he should not be hemmed in by those pesky little rules.

What was wrong with the SPLOST anyway? I thought the majority of the voters approved it. Was Brown simply out of step with the majority of citizens? Or is this somehow tied to his rabid opposition to the TDK extension?

They'll let him off the hook of course, but I really hope we can read about how he defends himself.


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Reality needed with Robert W. Morgan
Submitted by Jones on Mon, 01/22/2007 - 12:51pm.

Actually, the SPLOST won with a razor thin majority. I agreed that Peachtree City should have received more of the funds. Those funds are now needed to help offset the development authority scandal bailout and the doubling of the city council's salaries, not to mention all of the road improvements that will be needed from TDK.

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I believe it was the timing of the SPLOST vote
bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Sun, 01/21/2007 - 5:21pm.

What was wrong with the SPLOST anyway?

If I remember correctly, the laws that govern how the monies were to be distributed were about to be changed. The net result of the SPLOST was that PTC received $35,000,000 less than the newer version of the law would have allowed.

Brown wanted the SPLOST delayed so that the newer laws would be in effect once it was approved.


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The DirectPAC Cockroaches never stop
Basmati's picture
Submitted by Basmati on Sat, 01/20/2007 - 6:06am.

The DirectPAC Cockroaches never stop in their never ending battle against Steve Brown. How DARE Comcast identify Steve Brown by his title, anyway!

Why does DirectPAC fear free speech?
Why do cockroaches always scurry about when light is shined on them?


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Well, lookee here sports fans
mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Fri, 01/19/2007 - 7:30am.

Ethics is now a spectator sport. A public hearing and Brown gets to explain how Comcast would have given him free air time even if had not been mayor and even if Comcast's franchise agreement were not coming up for renewal by city council. Better yet, Comcast explaining that will really require some creative wordsmithing.

Maybe I'll go and tape the trial - or maybe its just a hearing for now.
meow


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