Atlanta Unfiltered

Leaders in the public sector have plenty of 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:

Simone Bell (D-Atlanta)

District 58 (Fulton and DeKalb counties)

Legislative website

Campaign website

Voting record

Overview

Bell did not file a personal financial disclosure in 2010 covering her financial interests for the prior year, according to the state ethics commission’s website. Commission records show she has been assessed $500 in late filing fees since winning a 2009 special election.

Political career

• Won a 2009 special election with 56 percent of the vote over Asha Jackson, another Democrat.
• Re-elected without opposition in 2010.
• Won 58 percent of the vote to defeat fellow incumbent Ralph Long in the 2012 Democratic primary after both were drawn into the same legislative district.
• Won 2012 general election with 87 percent of the vote.

Committee assignments

• Children & Youth (2010 – 2012)
  
• Human Relations & Aging (2010 – present)
  
• Intragovernmental Coordination (2013 – )
• Juvenile Justice (2013 – )
• State Planning & Community Affairs (2010 – present)
  

Occupation

• Self-employed consultant. Bell said that work consists of speaking engagements, generally for non-profit or college organizations.
  
• Before entering politics, Bell worked as a community educator for The Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative and Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, “educating communities about the need for access to affordable and quality health care,” according to her campaign website.
  

Business ownership interests

• None disclosed
  

Fiduciary positions

• None disclosed

Investment interests

• None disclosed

Real estate holdings

• Personal residence in Atlanta, valued at $213,000

Payments from state agencies

• None disclosed
  

Ethics cases

• Bell, as of October 2012, owed $325 in late fees for missing filing deadlines for three campaign finance reports.

Campaign contributions

• 2009: $65,281
  
• 2010: $9,873
• 2011-12: $24,839
  

Top donors

• $5,300 Sen. Nan Orrock & other Democratic legislators
• $4,800 John C. Prosser, AutoTrader
• $3,700 Michael Grover, Cox Communications
  
• $3,200 Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
• $2,500 B. Rodney White and Michael Williams, Making Projects Work
  
• $1,700 Gail Cowie
• $1,550 Jamie Roberts, public defender
  
• $1,550 Kyle & Valerie Williams
• $1,400 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• $1,250 Kenneth Britt
• $1,250 employees of the Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund
  

Campaign-to-campaign donations

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. Bell’s committee made these political donations:

• 2009-10: $250
• 2011-12: $406

Lobbyist gifts (reported value)

Lobbyists have reported paying for meals and other gifts for Bell valued at more than $750 since 2009. The big spender: Georgia Equality ($185).

• 2009: $32
• 2010: $29
  
• 2011: $318
  
• 2012: $363
• 2013: $11 through Jan. 31

Committee days & travel expenses

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.

• 2010: $868 (5 days)
  
• 2011: $1,391 (8 days)
• 2012: $1,564 (9 days)
  
• 2013: $1,566 (9 days through April 25)

Updated April 25, 2013