On Friday we reported the contributions for Rebecca Marshall’s campaign coming from outside Gilmer County. We reported that several holding groups with possible connections to Jon Watson (DTS) gave several thousands of dollars to the Marshall campaign.

We have received a lot of criticism that we did not look at the Bailey Campaign contributions close enough. We used the same website from the state of Georgia and found only one contribution from outside of Gilmer County. Affiliated Auctions and Realty LLC for $2,000. When we asked Ms. Bailey she said she has done work for this company for several years. FYN did find this company has done business in Gilmer County for several years.

When FYN asked Bailey about her contributors she acknowledged them, Marshall did not. This was the only reason for further investigation.

When we spoke to Wendell McNeal he told us he did not know Jon Watson. FYN reported we had good reason to believe that Wendell McNeal (gave $4,000 to the Marshall campaign) knew Jon Watson (DTS). This morning we confirmed that by talking to Cherokee County Tax Commissioner Sonya Little. Miss Little said her campaign did receive a contribution from both Watson and McNeal. She went on to say that both checks arrived in the same envelope.

We found that Jon Watson also gave money ($5,000) to Steven B. Kendrick Tax Commissioner for Augusta-Richmond County. Mr. Kendrick ran unopposed. FYN spoke with Mr. Kendrick and asked why someone would give this amount of money to a candidate that was running unopposed? He replied that at first he thought he would have an opponent so he did some fundraisers. I asked what happens to the money, do you return it or does it just sit there, he replied, “it just sits there.” Kendrick did confirm to FYN that the county does do business with Jon Watson.

Former Tax Commissioner Frank Elliott used DTSI for the county tax sales (Richard Watson and Jon Watson). Jon Watson now owns DTS (Delinquent tax services).

Marshall confirmed that she knows Jon Watson. We asked her if she made Jon Watson any promise of the business with Gilmer County, she replied “no but he does a better job then the company we currently use.” We asked Marshall if she would sell FIFA’s to holding groups, she replied “No, she would not.” She insisted that she would do a good job for the citizens. She told us that she had the most experience and would collect the tax money owed to Gilmer County. She insisted that she would work with the citizens on payment plans. FYN has heard Marshall through-out the campaign pledge to work with the citizens of Gilmer County and return the tax office back to the people.

People must know that their Tax Commissioner is beholden to the citizens and not outside special interest groups like those that have contributed to Marshall’s or Bailey’s campaign.
FYN does not endorse either candidate in the race.
Click the link below for part one of the story.
Who Gave Marshall All the Money?