Atlanta Unfiltered

Leaders in the public sector have plenty of public resources to promote their political views, accomplishments and experience. Often the public record holds much more: personal and campaign finance disclosures, expense reports, and business, tax and court filings. Here’s what they show:

Michael Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta)

District 81 (DeKalb and Gwinnett counties)

Legislative website

Campaign website

Voting record

Overview

Friends and family top Holcomb’s list of political donors. His wife’s family has given more than $24,000 to his campaigns for the Legislature and secretary of state, while former colleagues at the law firm of Sutherland Asbill and Brennan, including former Rep. Elena Parent, have contributed nearly $21,000.

Political career

• Finished 5th in 2006 in a crowded field of Democrats running for Secretary of State.
• Elected 2010 to the House without opposition, qualifying after incumbent Kevin Levitas backed out of the race.
• Defeated Republican candidate Chris Boedeker in the 2012 general election.

Committee assignments

• Children & Youth (2011 – present)
  
• Defense & Veterans Affairs (2012 – present)
• Motor Vehicles (2011)
  
• Public Safety and Homeland Security (2011 – present)
  

Occupation

•  Attorney; general, counsel, J.P. Turner & Co. LLC (investment advisors)

Business ownership

• member, The Holcomb Law Firm LLC

Fiduciary positions

• Board member, Georgia Perimeter College Foundation, non-profit
• Board member, Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network, non-profit providing pro bono legal services
• Former board member, Travelers Aid of Metro Atlanta (dba HOPE Atlanta), non-profit involved with helping the homeless
• Former CFO (2007-08), The Getting2Tri Foundation Inc., non-profit that helps people with disabilities compete in triathlons
  

Property holdings

• Personal residence in DeKalb County, valued at $559,000

Investments

• Home Depot
• Starbucks
• Visa

Payments from state agencies

• None disclosed

Campaign contributions

Donors have contributed more than $204,000 to Holcomb’s campaign committee since 2010. The breakdown by election cycle:

• 2006: $79,172
  
• 2010: $24,976
• 2011-12: $105,060

Top donors (since 2006)

• $24,700 Drs. Sang Wan Oh and other in-laws
  
• $17,000 Drs. Brandon and Christine Kang, Gwinnett Medical Center
• $12,646 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP and its attorneys
  
• $10,427 Kenneth Dious, attorney, Athens, Ga.
• $10,300 Donna & Douglas Curling, Roswell, former president ChoicePoint Inc.
  
• $9,000 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  
• $8,500 Rep. Elena Parent and other House Democrats
• $6,000 Drew & Heather Curtis, Fark.com LLC (Internet news aggregator)
  
• $5,000 Kevin Aniskovich, senior management Health Forward Inc.
• $3,200 Red Clay Democrats PAC
• $3,200 Joseph White, attorney Fried & Bonder LLC

Campaign to campaign

Candidates may make political donations with campaign funds, allowing prolific fund-raisers to share their contributions with other legislators or candidates. Some advocacy groups believe such transfers should be limited to an aggregate of $10,000 per election cycle. Holcomb’s committee made these political donations:

• 2006: $0
  
• 2010: $3,100
• 2011-12: $3,000

Lobbyist spending

• 2011: $37
• 2012: $68

Per Diem

When the Legislature is out of session, members may collect $173 per diem, plus mileage, for attending a committee meeting or conducting other official business. Lawmakers living within 50 miles of the Capitol are taxed on these payments, which were originally intended to cover out-of-town members’ food and lodging.

• 2011: $374 (2 days)
• 2012: $0
  
• 2013: $775 (4 days through April 25)

Updated April 25, 2013