May 22, 2013
ATLANTA (AP) -- Two Republican challengers are running against state Sen. Don Balfour as he faces ethics complaints.
Travis Bowden and Steve Ramey met the deadline Friday to qualify for the July 31 GOP primary ballot. Few leaders in the General Assembly are facing major challengers.
Balfour, who lives in Snellville, chairs the powerful Senate Rules Committee and was a big force behind this year's change to Georgia's tax code. But he's been accused of accepting money for official state work on days when lobbyists reported that Balfour was out-of-state or far from the Capitol.
Neither of Balfour's challengers has reported raising campaign money. The incumbent reported having nearly $741,000 at the end of March.
The winner of the primary will face Democratic candidate Scott Drake in the general election.
AP-WF-05-25-12 1922GMT
