Georgia Ethics Commission Leader Resigns

Atlanta (AP) - The head of the State Ethics Commission is stepping down.

Rick Thompson said Tuesday he is resigning as the commission’s executive secretary to go into private practice.

He joined the commission in 2004 when it was saddled with a growing backlog of ethics complaints filed against politicians, lobbyists and political groups.

The backlog has mostly been wiped out, but the commission has been the target of repeated budget cuts over the last few years.

Thompson said his last day will likely be in mid-October.