Ga. Commission Clears Oxendine of Alleged Misuse of Campaign Funds

The State Ethics Commission has cleared Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine of allegations that he misused campaign funds.

Oxendine, who has been commissioner since January 1995, was accused of several potential ethics violations, including transferring more than five-thousand dollars from his Insurance Commissioner’s campaign committee in 1994 to another committee for his campaign for lieutenant governor. Oxendine said the money was returned to its proper place when he discovered the move may have been against campaign rules and before a complaint was filed with the ethics commission.

The complaints were dismissed after a three-hour hearing into allegations Oxendine didn’t correctly report some campaign spending, illegally transferred funds between a campaign for his current office and his defunct bid for lieutenant governor and improperly used political donations to cover legal bills related to other ethics charges.

The state Attorney General’s office also accused Oxendine of using more than $18,00 in campaign funds between 1998 and 1999 to pay for legal fees to defend against ethics complaints. Ethics Commission Chairman Steve Farrow said no rule exists on the matter and the commission should create one before candidates are punished by the state board.

State officials also accused Oxendine of not clearly listing whether expenses for a room at the Atlanta Hilton and for a wrecker service in 2001 were used for purposes relating to his campaign. Oxendine and other campaign officials testified the expenses were legitimate, although the disclosure forms lacked space for a detailed explanation.