An ethics complaint has been filed against Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood, questioning the veracity of Chitwood's financial disclosures saying he received more than $25,000 from donors giving $100 or less.
Candidates are required to list the name and occupation of any campaign contributors above $100, according to state finance rules. But in three campaign finance reports this year, Chitwood reported receiving tens of thousands of dollars in donations that were not itemized with a contributor identified.
Eddie Caldwell, chair of the Whitfield County Republican Party, filed a complaint with the state ethics commission in early October against Chitwood, a Democrat, Caldwell said in a phone call.
"I know that there's no way you get that kind of money all under $100," said Caldwell, a resident of Dalton. "That just doesn't happen."
A spokesperson for the state's ethics commission said in an email that a complaint against Chitwood was received but couldn't comment on open and active cases.
If not itemizing the donations was an honest mistake, Caldwell said, Chitwood should clear it up before the election. And after three decades in the office, he should know what is required by state rules, Caldwell said.
(READ MORE: Whitfield County sheriff, opponent face off at candidate forum)
Chitwood has been sheriff of Whitfield County for more than 30 years. He is defending his position against Republican Darren Pierce, who worked as a former sheriff's deputy for nearly 20 years.
Chitwood responded to a request for an interview about the ethics complaint in an email.
"I am blessed to have a very large base of donors that have contributed $100 or less," he said.
Staff Photo by Andrew Wilkins / Darren Pierce, Republican candidate for Whitfield County sheriff, speaks to the audience Oct. 8, 2024, at a candidates forum in Dalton. Pierce is challenging Democratic incumbent Sheriff Scott Chitwood.
There is no merit to the complaint, Chitwood said, but he said he has responded to it in what he called "the proper manner."
After hearing Chitwood's response, Caldwell said he thinks the sheriff's financial reports were sworn "deceitfully," and he needs to disclose who's been funding his campaign.
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Caldwell ran for a state house seat in 2017 and said he rejected donations because some people didn't want their name made public in campaign finance filings.
Voters deserve to know who is donating to a candidate's campaign, he said, because financial support can lead to influence.
Ethics commission spokesperson Haley Barrett declined to comment about the ethics process, referring a reporter to the commission website.
According to its website, the commission has the power to impose civil penalties and administrative costs or report violations to law enforcement authorities.
Caldwell also filed a technical complaint against Chitwood, alleging some campaign funds were miscategorized in his financial filings.
Contributed Photo / Eddie Caldwell, chair of the Whitfield County Republican Party
Chitwood's most recent campaign donations filing is from Friday. The document listed on the county's elections website said he received $600 in nonitemized donations as well as $6,000 in itemized contributions from two insurance companies, a car dealership and a funeral home.
In a Sept. 30 filing, Chitwood reported about $8,500 in donations of $100 or less. In his June 30 filing, he reported $1,800 in donations of $100 or less. In his April 30 filing, he reported $15,000 in donations of $100 or less as well as $1,000 in itemized donations.
(READ MORE: In Whitfield County, a host of Republican candidates vie to challenge long-serving Democrat sheriff)
Also filed Friday, Pierce reported about $7,300 in itemized donations this period and no nonitemized donations.
In his Sept. 30 filing, he received about $1,700 in nonitemized donations and nearly $14,000 in itemized donations. In his June 30 filing, he received about $2,500 in donations of $100 or less and $7,500 in itemized donations. In his April 30 filing, Pierce received nearly $2,700 in itemized donations and about $600 in nonitemized donations.
Contact Andrew Wilkins at awilkins@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.