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Lanier County Tax Commissioner’s Dual Roles Raise Ethics Questions – Conflicts of Interest Part 11

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LANIER COUNTY NEWS SPECIAL REPORT

EDITOR’S NOTE:  This is the eleventh in a series examining ethics and governance in Lanier County.  The series spotlights potential and actual conflicts of interest involving elected officials and their employees.

By Carol A. Gasser Moore |

LAKELAND, Lanier County, Georgia – Lanier County Tax Commissioner Rebecca S. Rampey, a constitutional officer first elected in 2012 and recently re‑elected unopposed in November 2024, also holds corporate officer titles at Rampey Logging, Inc., a family-owned forestry business based in Lakeland. Recent public records reveal she is registered as the company’s corporate secretary and registered agent

Office Responsibilities & Business Ties

As Tax Commissioner, Rampey oversees the billing and collection of property taxes for all county-owned real estate—including commercial timber operations—and serves as the state tag agent issuing vehicle titles and registrations

Meanwhile, Rampey Logging, Inc.—incorporated in 1994—operates a fleet of logging trucks and handles forestry operations, with annual revenues estimated over $1 million and employing around 15 people.  Rampey, alongside family members Steven and Wallace Rampey, maintains executive roles in the company.

Possible Conflicts: Where Lines Could Blur

  1. Tax Commissioners Operations
    Timber land and equipment holdings by Rampey Logging are subject to local property tax valuations. Since Rampey is responsible for collecting the county taxes specified by the Lanier County Tax Assessor, she in essence is responsible for collecting her own company’s taxes. It can raise questions about impartiality, even if assessments are conducted by independent assessors.
  2. Business Licensing & Motor Vehicle Services
    The logging company’s truck fleet (with at least six tractors and eight trailers) requires registration—all managed under the Tax Commissioner’s office. While routine, this relationship creates potential for favoritism or preferential service to her own business.
  3. Transparency & Disclosure
    Georgia statute requires elected officials to disclose dual roles that create financial interests. While no formal complaints or state ethics investigations against Rampey have been reported. Recent reviews of area government elected officials and their employees, which was initiated by the Lanier County News,  is aimed to identify possible real or potential areas of conflicts of interest.  Hopefully, heightened scrutiny over dual‐role conflicts in government helps citizens become better informed.

Community and Legal Oversight

The Lanier County News, has launched this broader series examining possible conflicts of interest among elected officials within Lanier County or nearby.  So far Rampey has not been a named subject by anyone.

County commissioners in other jurisdictions (e.g., those with roles tied to Georgia Power or private sector employers) have faced similar ethics warnings based on the mere appearance of conflicting interests laniercountynewsonline.com. While none have alleged misconduct, scholars emphasize that even perceived conflicts can erode public trust.

The Bottom Line

  • Rebecca Rampey holds elected responsibility over property and vehicle taxation while simultaneously holding executive positions in a local logging company—both of which fall under her official purview.
  • No formal allegations, audits, or state ethics actions have surfaced to date.
  • Nonetheless, transparency advocates suggest that to prevent the appearance of a conflict, Rampey may have already or could simply:
    • Disclose her business interests annually;
    • Recuse herself from matters directly involving her logging business;
    • Establish third-party review of relevant tax assessments or licensing.

What Comes Next

Residents and watchdogs may call for more public disclosure or seek county-level policy discussions on maintaining separation between public duties and private business interests. The next regular meeting of the Lanier County Board of Commissioners is expected in early July, where the topic may emerge in new ethics discussions.

Note: This article is based on publicly available corporate filings, business registrations, and the known duties of the Tax Commissioner. No causes for concern have been found.  Instead, this report aims to inform residents of a dual-role scenario that merits transparency and possibly updated disclosure practices in local government.

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Posted in Breaking News, Government for its Citizens

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