special reports
ATL council member blurred line with $34K in spending
By JIM WALLS
Atlanta City Council member Cleta Winslow just paid an ethics fine for spending $5,420 of taxpayers’ money to boost her 2009 re-election campaign.
But taxpayers also picked up the tab for nearly $29,000 more in spending that promoted Winslow’s name in the final weeks before last year’s voting, an analysis of council records shows. The payments blurred the line drawn by the city’s Ethics Code to separate city-sponsored events and campaign activities.
Winslow collected reimbursements from her city expense account for jazz musicians, a disc jockey, an inflatable bouncer, a popcorn machine and other equipment, plus $8,000 worth of barbecue and side dishes, for events Oct. 17 and 24 last year.
Click here to read my full story on ajc.com.
Click below for a few supporting documents:
Oct. 2009 contract for $8,000 of BBQ and sides
Winslow’s flyer promoting Oct. 24 event at Adair Park
Winslow’s 2009 campaign newsletter
Winslow’s Nov. 2009 response to ethics complaint