Overview:
Want to know who's making it rain for Clayton County politicos? Here's what we found.
UPDATE 5:47 p.m.: Reaves says she filed reports that aren’t showing in the county portal
If you want to know who donated to Clayton County candidates’ campaigns, or whom Clayton County candidates are paying to help them get elected, you might be confused by the multiple campaign finance sites and requirements.
Follow the money
You might find county-level candidate filings in one of four places:
- The old Georgia State Ethics Commission online filing system
- The new Georgia Campaign Finance Commission online filing system
- Clayton County Elections and Registration’s Easy File campaign finance portal
- In the physical office of any of these places, often requiring appointments and/or Open Records Requests
For municipal races, you’ll find candidate filings at the Clayton County Elections and Registration Office if the county handles your city’s elections. If your city runs its own elections (or hires a contractor to do it for them), like Forest Park, you’ll find candidate filings at City Hall and you’ll probably have to file an Open Records Request to see them. All municipal candidates’ filings go to the state, so check those sites, as well.
Those state filings are due every election year on January 31, March 31, June 30, September 30, October 25, and December 31. The filings also are due every non-election year on January 31 and June 30. State law allows a five-day grace period for those deadlines.
For federal races, you can look up a candidate by state, district, or zip code at the Federal Elections Commission.
Cut to the chase: For county and statewide candidates in Clayton County, go to the Clayton County Elections and Registration homepage and click on the red, white, and blue “Easy File” logo with the checkmark on the right-hand column.
That will take you directly to https://claytoncountyga.easyvotecampaignfinance.com/home/publicfilings, where you can read campaign finance disclosures (CCDR), declarations of intent to accept campaign contributions (DOI), and affidavits for current candidates running for office, as well as for past candidates.
Some candidates show no filings in the public-facing online portal (most notably, former Board of Commissioners Chair Wade Starr). It’s possible that some campaign documents are on file at the Elections and Registration Office but not listed online, as the website disclaimer notes. (We asked Elections and Registration for the latest CCDRs last week, at least some of which appear online, and were promised a callback once the documents were ready. We’ll check back to see if everyone filed on time and update if we find more.)
The quickest way to find campaign finance filings for some individual candidates is to use the Advanced Search tool here:
https://claytoncountyga.easyvotecampaignfinance.com/advancedsearch/contributions
If you look up a candidate in one link and don’t find any campaign finance documents, look for them in the other link.
Who gets
Mitzi Bickers’ Pirouette Companies, now headquartered at 315 Stonecastle Pass in Atlanta (and the UPS store on West Paces Ferry), and with Bickers’ partner Keyla Jackson now listed as the CEO, CFO, and secretary on state corporate filings, continues to pull in plenty of cash for running political campaigns.
Also doing campaign consulting work for several Clayton County candidates are Griffin School Board member and multiple-stabbing survivor Syntel Brown and UGA political science student and Dexter Wimbish‘s Griffin Judicial Circuit DA campaign volunteer coordinator Austin Grant. Kevin Thomas, whose Capitol Connections Firm, Inc. was reinstated in 2021 (Sandra Thomas is CEO and CFO; Kevin Thomas is secretary), provided a “campaign black book” to Anderson’s campaign. A payee listed as “Campaign Blackbook” at Thomas’ home address in Jonesboro provided palm cards for Monica Hooker, who is running against incumbent Jasmine Bowles in School Board District 1. The Clayton Crescent did not find a registered Georgia corporation called “Campaign Blackbook.”
Who gives
A lot of campaign donors who live outside of Clayton County are in the real estate business. Some are in the bail bond business, like Tommy Ford of Jam Bonding and Christopher Bohrer of Anytime Bail Bonding, both of whom donated $2,500 to Janice Scott’s District 4 campaign. So did Bickers’ former boss and close friend, Sheriff Victor Hill, who chipped in $500 to Scott’s campaign. Jarrett Gorlin of Judicial Innovations, a probation software and online government-fee and ticket-payment company, also donated $1,000 to Scott’s campaign.
Some candidates have not filed any campaign finance reports recently.
While Alaina Reaves filed a Declaration of Intent to receive campaign donations, none have been recorded in the public-facing part of the Clayton County Elections and Registration Easy File online portal. Reaves, who ran against Alieka Anderson in the special election to fill District 1 after Sonna Singleton Gregory’s death from ovarian cancer, has been endorsed by Board of Commissioners Chairman Jeff Turner in the BOC District 1 race. Reaves told The Clayton Crescent, “Not sure why my reports aren’t available online. September 30th and October 25 reports submitted, will follow up about the December 31 report.”
District 4 candidate Meia Ballinger also filed a DOI, but her most recent filing is an affidavit that she has not received more than $2,500 in donations. Ballinger, who along with Scott is challenging District 4 incumbent DeMont Davis, has been asking supporters on Facebook to donate to her GoFundMe account.
Most of Davis’ campaign donors are from Clayton County. One exception is The Collaborative Firm, Michael Hightower’s planning and redevelopment business, which donated $1,000. Hightower’s firm, which the City of Forest Park called in to manage “town hall meetings” about the Park at Fort Gillem and which puts on the South Metro Development Outlook Conference, also donated $500 to Anderson’s reelection campaign in District 1.
The list
Want to know who’s making it rain for Clayton County politicos? Here’s what we found:
Board of Commissioners 1
- Alieka Anderson (I)
- 5/11/22: Two-Day Business Report
- DONORS
- Navroz Sayani, Duluth, Aurora Holdings USA: $2,000
- Christopher Housley, Cumming: $2,600
- AlAmin Sayani, Duluth, Vintage Amusement: $2,000
- Lister Holt & Dennis LLC: $2,800
- Kimberly Gross, McDonough: $1,500
- Timika Dennis, Partner, Lister Holt & Dennis LLC: $1,500
- DONORS
- 4/30/22: CCDR
- DONORS
- Stephen Henri, Decatur: $50
- Michael Brown, Conyers: $150
- Eric Wilson, Atlanta: $250
- Jerome Edmondson, Lithonia: $250
- John Tolbert, Decatur: $125
- Stephen Henri, Decatur: $50
- Sylvester Ford, Buford: $250
- The Collaborative Firm, East Point: $500
- Cori & Elijah [sic] Holdings LLC, Jonesboro: $2,600
- Lorraine Brooks, Hampton: $2,800
- Education System Management, Inc.: $2,800
- Alieka Anderson: $300
- 56 Hwy 81 West LLC, Decatur/Jonesboro: $750
- SG Contracting, INC, Atlanta: $750
- PAYEES
- Austin Grant, Griffin (Consulting): $125
- Kevin Thomas, Jonesboro (Campaign Blackbook): $593.75
- Robert Hill, Riverdale (Signs): $200
- Robert Hill, Riverdale (Food for campaign): $100
- Syntel Brown, Griffin (Consulting): $350
- Austin Grant, Griffin (Consulting): $300
- Pirouette Companie [sic], Atlanta (Campaign Phone Banking): $5,000
- Pirouette Companie [sic], Atlanta (Campaign Phone Banking): $5,000
- Syntel Brown, Griffin (Consulting): $350
- Outfront Media, New York (Billboards): $4,220
- Carl Lee, Grayson (Signs): $3,993
- Longhorn Steakhouse (Campaign Event Food): $139.54
- 7 Pillars Career Academy (School donation): $250
- Texting for Less, Hackensack, NJ (Campaign Texting): $1,130
- Georgia Secretary of State Committee Registration: $115
- Riches Events, Griffin (Event Planning): $374.50
- The Home Depot, Ellenwood (Campaign Event Materials): $154.32
- Kroger, Atlanta (Campaign events): $168.86
- The Home Depot, Morrow (Campaign Event Materials): $191.43
- Sam’s Club, Morrow (Campaign Event Materials): $124.33
- Pirouette Companie [sic], Atlanta (Campaign Phone Banking): $500
- Syntel Brown, Griffin (Consulting): $350
- Syntel Brown, Griffin (Consulting): $85
- Sign D Sign, Inc., Grayson (Campaign signs): $1,925
- Austin Grant, Griffin (Consulting): $300
- 5Church, Atlanta (Campaign event): $142.40
- QuikTrip, Ellenwood (Candidate travel gas): $48.07
- Syntel Brown, Griffin (Consulting): $1,700
- QuikTrip, Ellenwood (Candidate travel gas): $60.46
- QuikTrip, Ellenwood (Candidate travel gas): $61.24
- Texting for Less, Hackensack, NJ (Campaign texting): $1,136
- Pirouette Companie [sic], Atlanta (Campaign phone banking): $2,000
- DONORS
- 2/4/22: CCDR
- DONORS
- Dustin Hewatt, Manager, Majors West, Braselton: $2,600
- Valerie Hewatt, Realtor, Majors Realty, Braselton: $2,600
- Marissa Stockton, not employed, Braselton: $2,600
- Marvin Hewatt, CEO, Hewatt Enterprises, Braselton: $2,600
- Sharon Lawson, not employed, Gainesville: $2,600
- Jill Harris, Realtor, Jill Harris & Associates, Atlanta: $2,600
- Brad Hughes, Manager, Sentinel Properties, Gainesville: $2,600
- JDS Holdings, Duluth: $1,000
- Christopher Harris, President, Sentinel Properties, Atlanta: $2,600
- Stephen Henri, not employed, Decatur: $50
- PAYEES
- Vantiv E-Commerce, Symmes Township, OH (ActBlue fees): $2.21
- DONORS
- 5/11/22: Two-Day Business Report
- Alaina Reaves
Board of Commissioners 4
- DeMont Davis (I)
- 5/4/2022: CCDR
- DONORS
- Maxie Price: $2,500
- Rocklyn Homes, Duluth: $2,000
- Glenn Baker, retired, Jonesboro: $300
- Terry Baskin, Clayton County Tax Commissioner, Jonesboro: $250
- Teresa Musso, Jonesboro: $1,000
- Lister & Holt, LLC, attorney, Jonesboro: $2,800
- Corporate Environmental Risk Management LLC, Tucker: $1,000
- Michael Brown, Conyers: $500
- Sheila Brown, Jonesboro: $1,000
- Julia Scruggs, Jonesboro: $300
- Jerry Griffin, Jonesboro: $300
- Telemedicine, Stone Mountain: $200
- The Collaborative Firm LLC, East Point: $1,000
- KM Holdings Inc. [sic], Athens: $3,000
- STKR Mt. Zion LLC, Fort Lauderdale, FL: $3,000 (terminated in Georgia on Feb. 2 of this year, 2 minutes after filing; Florida corporate listings show several companies with STKR as part of the name. In both states, Jeffrey Kronengold is listed as the incorporator. Kronengold is vice president and general counsel of TDON Development, Inc.)
- JDS Holdings LLC, Duluth: $2,800
- Jill Harris, Atlanta: $2,600
- Emilee Hughes, Gainesville: $2,600
- Dustin Hewatt, Braselton: $2,600
- Christopher Harris, Atlanta: $2,600
- Marvin Hewatt, Lawrenceville: $2,600
- Scott Holt, McDonough: $2,800
- Benjamin Smith, Atlanta: $2,600
- Valerie Hewatt, Braselton: $2,600
- Scott Moon, Loganville: $2,600
- Raise The Money Webcredit: $3,991.95
- Rodney Givens, Jonesboro: $200
- Cherie Crisp, Morrow: $200
- Fincher Denmark LLC, Atlanta: $1,000
- Steve Lister, attorney, Jonesboro: $2,800
- PAYEES
- Audacy, Atlanta (fundraiser): $3,494
- Autograph Digital, Morrow (Campaign expenses): $507.80
- Autograph Digital, Morrow (Campaign expenses): $302.40
- Brandon Turner, self-employed, Morrow (T-shirts): $600
- Callfire.com (fundraiser): $299
- Clash Graphics, Atlanta (Campaign expenses): $765.76
- Full Purpose Solutions, Fayetteville (PR): $2,500
- Game Media Network (Campaign expenses): $1,000
- Gap Management Services, Atlanta (Campaign expenses): $4,500
- Georgia Democratic Party (Profession fees): $400
- Good Guy Signs, Tampa, FL (Signs, campaign expenses): $6,735.33
- In Astra Translate (Campaign expenses): $130
- Kevin Collins, self-employed (Campaign expenses): $800
- Liah Gemini, self-employed (Website video): $1,600
- Lowe’s, Stockbridge (supplies): $672.53
- Nouveau Restaurant, Jonesboro (fundraiser): $474.89
- Publix, Morrow (fundraiser): $179.17
- Sam’s Club, Jonesboro (campaign expenses): $207.58
- Savoy Bar & Grill, Morrow (campaign expenses): $168.97
- SST Supplies, Riverdale (campaign expenses): $529.15
- Bookkeeping, self employ (accounting): $2,500
- The Democratic Party (profession fees): $1,073
- Full Purpose Solution, Fayetteville (PR): $7,500
- 5/4/2022: CCDR
- Meia Ballinger
- Janice Scott
- 10/4/21 DOI
- 1/4/22 CCDR
- DONORS
- Melissa Cuthrell, technician engineer, Jonesboro: $400
- Victor Hill, Clayton County Sheriff, $500
- Janice Scott, educator, CCPS, Jonesboro, $400
- Jarrett Gorlin, CEO, Judicial Innovations, $1,000
- PAYEES
- Pirouette Companies, Atlanta (Campaign consulting): $1,500
- DONORS
- 2/3/22 CCDR
- DONORS
- Stephanie Cutter, not employed, Savannah: $100
- Stephanie Cutter, not employed, Savannah: $100
- Charles Shaw III, CRS Cobb Ventures, Alpharetta: $2,500
- Scott Hall, self-employed, Evans: $2,500
- Tommy Ford, bail bondsman, Jam Bonding, Williamson: $2,500
- Anthony Bryant, consultant, Moon Rock, Stone Mountain: $2,500
- Christopher Bohrer, business owner, Anytime Bail Bonding, Atlanta, $2,500
- Eddie Henderson, educator, APS, Conyers: $300
- Arnold Curtis, owner, DBA Gold Glove Properties, LLC, Fayetteville: $300
- Nona Scott, retired, Atlanta: $200
- Robert Hughes, owner, Old Hamilton Real Estate Services, Buford: $2,600
- Jenae Hughes, consultant, Sprinklr DC, Buford: $2,600
- Thomas Hughes, partner, Buford Realty, Buford: $2,600
- Avalon Real Estate Partners, Atlanta: $2,600
- Caroline Holt, realtor, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s, Atlanta: $2,600
- Lugenia Hughes, retired, Buford $2,600
- Martha Benson, accounting supervisor, Southern Company, Atlanta: $2,600
- Douglas Benson, operations manager, BrightDrop, Atlanta: $2,600
- PAYEES
- Austin Grant, Griffin (consulting), $150
- Pirouette Companies, Atlanta (campaign literature): $1,000
- Pirouette Companies, Atlanta (campaign literature): $9,500
- DONORS
Board of Education 1
- Jasmine Bowles (I)
- Monica Hooker
- 5/6/22: CCDR
- DONORS
- Carol Braddy, entrepreneur, LSCC, Atlanta: $2,500
- Dr. Monica Hooker, entrepreneur, Fayetteville: $1,000
- PAYEES
- Sign D Sign, Snellville (signs): $445
- Sign D Sign, Snellville (signs): $850
- Campaign Blackbook, Jonesboro (palm cards): $552.50 (we found no Georgia corporate listing by the name “Campaign Blackbook” but this payee has the same Jonesboro address as Sandra and Kevin Thomas’ Capitol Connections)
- RaceTrac, Fayetteville (candidate travel gas): $54.75
- DONORS
- 5/6/22: CCDR
Board of Education 4
- Victoria Williams (I)
Board of Education 8
- Joy Tellis Cooper (I)
Board of Education 9
- Benjamin Straker (I)
- Personal Financial Statement 10/26/19 (Clayton County’s online list of candidate filings do not show any entris after this date for Straker. However, not all campaign filings appear online.)
Judge of State Court
- Tammi Long Hayward (I)
Judge of State Court
- Michael Tyrone Garrett (I)
Judge of State Court
- Margaret L. Spencer (I)
- 5/4/22: CCDR
- DONORS
- Suesan Miller, attorney, McDonough: $500
- Karen Pass, attorney, Fayetteville: $300
- John Felan Spoon Castaneda, attorney, Jonesboro: $200
- Shonterria Stokes, attorney, Stockbridge: $500
- Jason Monroe, attorney, Jonesboro: $300
- Moore Ibekwe, attorney, College Park: $250
- Lister, Holt & Dennis, attorney, Jonesboro: $1,000
- Joseph M. Todd PC, attorney, Jonesboro: $250
- Tracy Graham Lawson, LLC, attorney, Jonesboro: $1,000
- Gloria Brown, retired, Forest Park: $100
- Frank Armstead, retired, Jonesboro: $100
- PAYEES
- Clayton County Board of Elections (filing fee): $4,880.98
- USPS, Riverdale (P.O. box): $198
- Sam’s Club, Morrow (marketing expense): $263.73
- DONORS
- 5/4/22: CCDR