Macon mayor fined for campaign finance violations. What we know.

The Georgia State Ethics Commission fined Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller $5,000 Wednesday for violating the state’s campaign finance laws.

Miller has reached a consent agreement with the commission to resolve findings that he improperly transferred $220,000 in excess campaign contributions to a nonprofit organization he helped establish two years ago, according to a consent order provided by the commission.

The consent order says Miller violated Georgia law five times when his campaign committee made transfers between March 2024 and June 2024 to Advance Alliance of Georgia Action Fund, Inc., a nonprofit he helped organize in August 2023. Miller served as CEO and was one of three directors of the organization.

Under the Campaign Finance Act, candidates are not permitted to “utilize campaign funds for the purpose of making gifts, loans or investments directly to any nonprofit organization in which the candidate has a controlling interest,” according to the consent order.

The Campaign Finance Act prohibits candidates from donating excess campaign funds to nonprofits in which they hold a controlling interest.

While the Campaign Finance Act does not define “controlling interest,” other sections of Georgia code define it as an equity or ownership stake accounting for 25% or more of voting rights or profit interest, according to the final order.

Miller asserted that a controlling interest requires a majority stake and that he acted with board approval and legal counsel at the time of the transfers.

Although the commission found that Miller violated state law, the consent order says Miller disputes that he knowingly or intentionally violated law, and the commission did not allege that the mayor acted knowingly or intentionally.

Miller cooperated with the commission, turning over financial records and agreeing to withdraw any legal defenses. He also maintained that all funds were spent in accordance with the law on research and advocacy regarding violence prevention, mental health policy, economic development strategies and more.

As part of the agreement, Miller will pay a $5,000 civil penalty within 30 days of the final order. He waived his right to appeal and agreed that failure to comply could lead to further legal action.

In a statement, Miller emphasized his cooperation with the Commission and said the issue arose from a legal gray area. He added that the matter was technical in nature and that the commission did not allege he benefited personally from the transactions.

“I have always acted with the best interests of our community at heart. The Commission recognized this was a technical matter, not intentional wrongdoing. I worked cooperatively with them including providing all documentation to resolve the issue so we can all move forward. The board was aware of these transactions because I openly included them in my campaign disclosure in full transparency,” Miller said.

Miller said the agreement allows him to keep his attention on serving Macon.

“We are making real progress in strengthening neighborhoods, improving public safety, supporting small businesses, and delivering results for our citizens,” he said.

How much did Miller transfer to his nonprofit?

According to a complaint the Georgia Ethics Commission filed against Miller, documentation shows that he transferred $220,000 to the Advance Alliance of Georgia Action Fund, Inc., a nonprofit that he is the CEO of.

Provided records from the commisison show itemized expenditures listed on a State of Georgia Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report.

• On March 8, 2024, Miller contributed $100,000 in expenditures to the Advance Alliance of Georgia Action Fund
• On April 19, 2024, Miller contributed $50,000 in expenditures to the Advance Alliance of Georgia Action Fund
• On May 20, 2024, Miller contributed $50,000 in expenditures to the Advance Alliance of Georgia Action Fund
• On May 28, 2024, Miller contributed $50,000 in expenditures to the Advance Alliance of Georgia Action Fund
• On June 20, 2024, Miller contributed $10,000 in expenditures to the Advance Alliance of Georgia Action Fund

The commission said it can provide additional documents related to correspondence and investigative records after the case if officially closed.

This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Macon mayor fined for campaign finance violations. What we know.."