Sam Olens Archives - Democratic Party of Georgia

Georgia – Georgia Democrats have sent a ten-page document to elected Board of Education members throughout the state in response to the recent opinion by Attorney General Sam Olens regarding the use of public displays of support against the Charter School Amendment. Last week, in what appeared to be an effort to influence the debate over the issue, Attorney General Olens told elected Board of Education members throughout the state that they did not have the “legal authority to expend funds or other resources to advocate or oppose the ratification of a constitutional amendment by the voters.”

Despite this ruling, the Democratic Party of Georgia found several instances of Governor Deal violating that same order, as he advocated for the Charter School Amendment on his own government website. In another instance, Deal promoted the T-SPLOST amendment that failed earlier this year. In a letter to the attorney general, Chairman Berlon asked that Olens’ look into possible ethical violations of this rule by Governor Nathan Deal.

According to DPG Chairman Mike Berlon, “The rules should be applied equally to everyone. If the attorney general believes that public funds can’t be used to advocate for political issues, it’s not fair or reasonable to silence one’s position while the Governor advocates his own. Let’s hope that the rules and the sanctions are the same for everyone.”

The ten-page document may be found here.

Georgia – Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon called on Georgia Senate Pro Tempore Tommie Williams and Attorney General Sam Olens to release the details of a secret $80,000 payment used to settle a racial discrimination complaint.

The payment and subsequent cover-up by Williams runs contrary to his goal to “bring more sunlight and transparency to how the public’s tax dollars are being spent.” Instead, Williams has dodged reporters and hidden in his office.

“We ask Senator Williams to tell Georgia what the allegations are, which senators were involved, and why $80,000 in taxpayer funds are being paid in secret,” said Berlon. “We will formally ask Attorney General Olens about his involvement in this situation and for a legal opinion on whether any laws were broken.”

“Government should be open to all; no back-room deals, no more secrecy. The senators involved in this should be censured and disciplined by the Senate. In addition, the people of Georgia have the right to know the facts regarding the expenditures of funds,” concluded Berlon.

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Georgia Democrats Respond to Attorney General Olens and Question Governor Deal’s Conduct

Berlon to Olens, Williams: “Which Senators Were Involved?”