Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard was provided an official consent order Tuesday following an investigation into her campaign contribution disclosure reports.
The matter came before the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, which seeks to educate the public on various aspects surrounding campaign finances and potential violations. Woodard was served a subpoena on Nov. 14, 2022, due to her failure to report her campaign contributions in a timely manner.
Woodard was up for reelection in 2022 and was successful in that endeavor. Having been previously elected during the 2010, 2014 and 2018 election cycles, Woodard is subject to the filing rules and requirements as put forward by the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act.
As a candidate for public office, Woodard is required to file a Personal Financial Disclosure Statement (PFDS) within the corresponding timeframe. Public office candidates are required to file within 15 days of qualifying for an election, according to commission officials.
The commission found that Woodard did not file her PFDS in a timely manner for her 2022 run for office, with reports that would have covered the 2021 calendar year.
Woodard is also required to file a Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report (CCDR) during the election period, as well as in non-election years.
The commission further found Woodard failed to file her election year CCDR on April 30, 2022, and June 30, 2022. She also failed to file her non-election year CCDRs on Dec. 31, 2019, June 30, 2020, Dec. 31, 2020, June 30, 2021 and Dec. 31 2021.
Woodard has since submitted her CCDRs and PFDS in an attempt to correct the record, according to the commission.
The commission ordered Woodard to pay a fine Tuesday, delivered in two parts. Firstly, Woodard is to pay a $3,000 fine as a civil penalty for violating the Campaign Finance Act. Second, she is to pay $1,000 in late fees for the aforementioned violations.
The total penalty of $4,000 is to be paid in full to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission by July 26, one month after the order.
“I am pleased that the recent investigation by the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission found no malfeasance or criminal wrongdoing,” Woodard wrote in a response Tuesday. “At the same time, I continue to take full responsibility for the mistakes in my filings. I accept the late fees and civil penalties, and have already taken corrective action to update each report.”
Woodard went on to commit to more attentively filing reports in the future.
“I want to express great appreciation for the professionalism of the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission staff that conducted their reviews and worked with me diligently to ensure proper filings in the future,” she said.
Should Woodard fail to pay the restitution in full, the commission has reserved the right to seek enforcement in Superior Court.
Woodard moved to Hall County in 2005 and took office as Solicitor General in 2009. Previous reports indicated she has spent little on campaigns in recent years due to running unopposed.
The Nov. 14, 2022 subpoena required Woodard to produce all of her banking records related to accounts under the control, or for the benefit of, the Stephanie Woodard Campaign Account, as well as all electronic banking records detailing cashed checks, wire transfers and all other banking transactions connected to the campaign account dating back to Nov. 2017.
