Ethics complaint against Ala. Sec. of State Chapman

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The State Ethics Commission meets Wednesday to review a complaint about Secretary of State Beth Chapman using her campaign fund to pay family members and her business.

The complaint was filed by Montgomery attorney Mark Montiel, who was a Republican candidate for attorney general in 2006.

Montiel says he asked the commission to review how Chapman raised campaign money after her election and then paid nearly $42,000 to her business and to family members. Montiel says the ethics law provides that a candidate shouldn’t convert campaign donations to personal use.

The Republican secretary of state declined comment, pending action by the Ethics Commission. Chapman’s campaign finance reports indicate she was paying family members for work they did in her campaign.