Congressional candidate Wright McLeod has in effect conceded two charges made against him in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission.
McLeod, one of four Republicans in the 12th District race, has updated his campaign finance report for the first quarter of 2012.
Boundary changes that favor the GOP and led incumbent Democrat John Barrow to move from Savannah to Augusta have put the 12th up for grabs.
The FEC recently told McLeod to fill gaps in his report for the first quarter of the year.
Its letter to him reflects two points in a recent complaint to the commission by another GOP candidate, Rick Allen.
He and McLeod have been the top fundraisers so far, but Allen has accused McLeod of cutting corners.
The Augusta businessman said McLeod didn’t say who received $51,159 described merely as “payroll.”
By law, the letter notes, he must name and provide other information about people paid more than $200 in a calendar year.
McLeod says he relied on an expert for advice about what to include. He released some information to the media after the complaint was filed but said whe’d give it to the FEC only if the panel sought it.
The agency’s letter to McLeod also reflects another contention in the complaint — that McLeod inadequately described outlays for office supplies and other items. It also sought more information on matters not discussed in the complaint.
The revised report appears to supply all or most of the information requested.
The letter stems from a normal staff review of McLeod’s report — not the complaint — said FEC spokeswoman Judith Ingram.
The commission told him to respond by July 23 or face an audit or an enforcement action — which could trigger fines.
“After trying to hide the fact that he broke the law ... for more than a month,” Scott Paradise, Allen’s campaign manager, “we’re glad Wright McLeod finally did the right thing and admitted he broke the law.”
The FEC often takes 10 months or so to resolve complaints, so it’s unlikely to act on Allen’s complaint before the July 31 primary.
McLeod spokeswoman Holly Croft offered a different view
“It’s a shame ... Mr. Allen’s campaign is hell-bent on making this election about personal attacks and petty politics,” Croft said.
“The voters of this district are interested in how we beat back Obamacare, rein in wasteful spending, balance the federal budget and get our country back on track.”
But Paradise pressed another issue raised in the complaint.
It says McLeod’s campaign illegally took names and addresses from Allen’s finance reports and used them for fundraising letters.
McLeod says he didn’t.
The punctuation in the names and addresses in the solicitations is identical to that in Allen’s report but different than in other public records, Paradise said. That shows they were lifted from Allen’s reports, he added.
“Does he believe that someone broke in to his campaign headquarters, forged his signature and drove to Atlanta to mail these signed fundraising letters?” Paradise asked.
One of McLeod’s fundraising consultants is based in Atlanta.
Croft didn’t respond to the question.
McLeod also denies the complaint’s claim he under-reported the fair rental value of office space four people donated to the campaign. As a result, Allen says, each exceeded the $2,500 contribution limit for the primary.