On April 5, 2007, the Georgia State Ethics Commission heard the allegations filed by Direct PAC against [me].

The allegations were as follows:

Allegation 1: Complainant alleges the Respondent [Brown] violated O.C.G.A. 21-5-34 [sic] (B)(2)(A), O.C.G.A. 21-5-34 (a)(2)(A) by not reporting the contribution of airtime from Comcast regarding an anti-SPLOST presentation. Allegation 2: Complainant alleges the Respondent violated O.C.G.A. 21-5-30.2 by opposing “Resolution No. 2004-09,” a SPLOST Referendum for transportation improvements as Mayor of Peachtree City.

The ethics complaint was filed by Direct PAC in the midst of a heated mayoral election. Direct PAC openly endorsed candidate Harold Logsdon, and [I] claimed the ethics complaint was nothing more than a nefarious scheme to suppress speech on the SPLOST and smear the opposition.

The Commission ruled by unanimous vote that both allegations from Direct PAC had no merit and dismissed the complaints entirely.

The models used to generate the SPLOST projects have been proven fraudulent and the county government purposefully circumvented the fair distribution of the funds as mandated in HB 709. Certain parties like the Chamber of Commerce, the former Peachtree City mayors and Direct PAC perpetuated the lies that led to a $34 million SPLOST shortfall for Peachtree City through public statements, phony educational forums and trumped-up charges against those who dared speak against them.

Steve Brown

Peachtree City, Ga.

[Brown served as mayor from 2001 through 2005, losing to Harold Logsdon in a runoff in late 2005.]