Milledgeville citizen files ethics complaint against local newspaper publisher

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A concerned Milledgeville citizen filed a state ethics complaint against the editor of the local newspaper.

Iva Griffin claims the Union Recorder violated the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act when it published pro-consolidation ads in the paper and didn’t say who paid for them.

She also said it is unethical for the editor of the paper, Keith Barlow, to give free and improper ad space to advance the ballot initiative for which he is the acting president. Griffin claims Barlow is the president of the Unification Committee. 

Griffin filed the first complaint on September 2, but it was rejected because she didn’t include the rule number she was accusing the paper of violating on the form. She resubmitted another complaint on September 15 and the state ethics board accepted it. 

Griffin would like to see a correction written up in the paper. 

The commission sent a notification letter and copy of the complaint to Barlow. He has 30 days to respond if he chooses. Commission staff will review the complaint to see if there is a basis to move forward with a hearing. If officials find there is reason to move forward, a hearing will be scheduled.

41NBC reached out to Barlow for comment, but he did not return our call.