Because nothing stirs the blood like a front-door confrontation

Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 05:48 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Politicians argue that complaints filed with the State Ethics Commission are often designed to embarrass candidates during the height of a campaign.

And sometimes that's true.

On the other hand, very rarely does an office-holder track down the person who filed the complaint, and show up on his front door. But apparently this is what state Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta) did.

The Dunwoody Crier, no friend to the lawmaker because of her arguments against cityhood, based its Wednesday article on a police incident report:

According to [Jeremy] Tanner, last Tuesday, Chambers herself came to his residence, took pictures of his house and yard, knocked on his door, and told him "you are in serious trouble."

....The resident said Chambers also told him that it was "a very serious offense to accuse an elected official of bribery."

Tanner said he told Chambers to leave the property, and closed the door, after which he said that the state representative continued to knock and say,"Come on out and talk to me, Jeremy."

After a few seconds, Tanner said Chambers left. A few hours later, Tanner filed an incident report with DeKalb County Police.

Tanner has accused Chambers - part of House Speaker Glenn Richardson's leadership team - of accepting campaign contributions that exceed the state's single-source limits.

Tanner also said the source, a surgery center, would have benefited from legislation later introduced by Chambers that would have done away with the state's licensing system for hospitals and other treatment centers.

According to the Crier, Chambers dismissed the incident - via e-mail - as "just a ridiculous attempt to get publicity for my opponent and to try to distract me from my own campaign."

Her November opponent for the District 81 seat is Democrat Chris Huttman.