Prosecutor's Campaign Finance Woes Raise Transparency Concerns

The top prosecutor in a four-county region has failed to comply with state laws on campaign finance disclosures, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the electoral process. District Attorney Daphne Totten, who serves Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins, and Screven counties, has missed multiple campaign finance reporting deadlines, drawing scrutiny from watchdog groups and the public.

Uncovering a Pattern of Noncompliance

Daphne Totten, the District Attorney for the four-county region, has a concerning track record when it comes to campaign finance reporting. Since taking office in January 2021, Totten has missed the June 30th campaign finance disclosure deadline seven times, a clear violation of state laws. Even more troubling, she failed to file her reports within the five-day grace period, which ended on July 8th.The most recent filing from Totten was her April 30th report, which she submitted on May 10th, only after the local news outlet TheGeorgiaVirtue reported that she had missed six previous financial disclosure deadlines. In her filing, Totten cited "experienced difficulty in accessing account and had to request assistance in resetting password and login credentials" as the reason for the delay.However, when TheGeorgiaVirtue filed an Open Records Request with the Campaign Finance Commission, the commission stated that they had no record of Totten requesting assistance with a password reset. This discrepancy raises further questions about the legitimacy of Totten's explanation and her commitment to transparency.

The Importance of Campaign Finance Disclosures

Campaign finance disclosures are a critical component of the electoral process, as they provide voters with detailed information about the sources and uses of campaign funds. These documents are designed to promote transparency and accountability, ensuring that races are not unduly influenced by dark money or special interests, and that campaign funds are not misappropriated.Totten's repeated failure to comply with these reporting requirements undermines the integrity of the electoral system and denies voters the information they need to make informed decisions. By not disclosing her campaign's financial activities, Totten is effectively shielding her campaign from public scrutiny, which could erode public trust in the electoral process.

Consequences and Ongoing Investigations

Totten's noncompliance with state campaign finance laws has already resulted in an ethics complaint being filed against her with the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission. This complaint is still pending, and the commission has the authority to impose civil penalties, order remedial action, and even refer suspected violations to law enforcement.The issue of campaign finance reporting is not limited to Totten's case. Just recently, State Representative Carl Gilliard of Savannah was fined ,000 by the state commission for failing to file his campaign finance reports, among other violations. This underscores the importance of strict enforcement of these laws to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.As Totten's term continues through December 31, 2025, despite her loss in the May 21st primary election, it remains to be seen whether she will take the necessary steps to rectify her campaign finance reporting issues and restore public confidence in her office. The outcome of the pending ethics complaint and any further actions by the Campaign Finance Commission will be closely watched by the community and the media.