The Georgia State Ethics Commission has chosen a former aide to House Speaker David Ralston to serve as its new director.
News outlets reported the state ethics commission voted Monday to hire Douglas County Chief Assistant District Attorney David Emadi. He takes over the agency after previous director Stefan Ritter was accused of looking at pornography on state computers. Ritter resigned last month with a $45,000 settlement and promise not to sue the commission.
Commission Chairman Jake Evans said Emadi's six years of experience as a prosecutor and his work as a former legislative aide helped persuade the panel to offer him the job.
Emadi was offered a $125,000 salary by the commission, which voted 3-1 to hire him. Emadi has also been politically active in the Douglas County Republican Party, and he donated $600 to Brian Kemp's successful campaign for governor.
Evans said it's important for the agency director to be willing to go up against people who have