The Caldwell Standard

A higher standard than the law requires.

Michael has always held his campaign to a higher standard than required by law. From the Georgia House of Representatives to the Mayorship of Woodstock, Caldwell’s self-imposed transparency and ethics rules have inspired changes in House Rules, state law, and campaigns for candidates across Georgia.

Ultimately, Caldwell holds to them because, required or not, they are the right thing to do.

Michael Caldwell takes the oath of office with his family beside him

Oath of Office · Mayor of Woodstock

“Required or not, they are the right thing to do.”

01

No Lobbyists. No PACs.

Michael has never accepted a campaign donation from a Political Action Committee, a registered lobbyist, or from anyone outside the State of Georgia.

None of these limitations are required by law, but they are the right thing to do.

02

Disclose Every Penny

We publish a detailed, down-to-the-penny ledger of campaign fundraising and spending right here on the website, updated regularly, so you don’t have to wait for incomplete state-mandated disclosures.

You can review this regularly-updated ledger at the bottom of this page.

This level of transparency is not required by law, but it is the right thing to do.

03

No War Chests. Return Unused Funds.

Incumbency shouldn’t come with a financial advantage. Since his first race for the Georgia House in 2010, Michael has zeroed out his campaign account at the end of every election cycle, returning unspent funds to donors on a proportional basis.

For example, if a supporter contributes $100 and the campaign spends 75% of its funds, that donor receives a $25 refund. This practice ensures the campaign always starts from zero and that every supporter can decide whether Michael has earned their trust for re-election.

This level of accountability is not required by law, but it is the right thing to do.

Campaign Finance Ledger

Down to the penny.

$0.00 Starting Balance
$42,122.28 Money In
$233.33 In-Kind
$38,287.47 Money Out
$3,834.81 Cash on Hand
Date Type Name Amount Balance
Aug 10, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0254 Expense Matt Milcoff 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$56.91 $3,834.81
Aug 1, 2026 WDSTK2029MAY0025 Expense Google Google Workspace Business Starter, Jul 2026 usage -$8.40 $3,891.72
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0305 Rededicated Loretta Yike Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $17.11 $3,900.12
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0304 Rededicated Loretta Yike Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $22.76 $3,883.01
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0303 Rededicated George Mortensen Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $17.11 $3,860.25
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0302 Rededicated George Mortensen Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $11.38 $3,843.14
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0299 Rededicated Timothy Byrd Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $85.55 $3,831.76
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0298 Rededicated Shirley Fox Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $85.55 $3,746.21
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0297 Rededicated Jonathan Chambers Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $85.55 $3,660.66
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0295 Rededicated Spencer Nix Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $42.78 $3,575.11
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0292 Rededicated J Kent Burklow Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $42.78 $3,532.33
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0286 Rededicated Brian Mayfield Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $25.66 $3,489.55
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0281 Rededicated Jack Futch Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $17.11 $3,463.89
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0277 Rededicated Brian Sholly Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $17.11 $3,446.78
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0276 Rededicated Brad Nix Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $17.11 $3,429.67
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0273 Rededicated Quentin Thomas Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $8.55 $3,412.56
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0272 Rededicated Phil Simon Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $8.55 $3,404.01
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0271 Rededicated Heath Tippens Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $8.55 $3,395.46
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0270 Rededicated Diane Offut Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $8.55 $3,386.91
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0269 Rededicated David Franklin Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $8.55 $3,378.36
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0268 Rededicated Bonnie Hammaker Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $8.55 $3,369.81
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0266 Rededicated Taylor Blanchard Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $4.28 $3,361.26
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0265 Rededicated Philip Ingram Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $4.28 $3,356.98
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0263 Rededicated Gregory Faber Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $4.28 $3,352.70
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0262 Rededicated David Leggett Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $0.34 $3,348.42
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0258 Rededicated Lee Heisman Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $113.82 $3,348.08
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0257 Rededicated Howard Franklin Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $113.82 $3,234.26
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0251 Rededicated Kenyette Bethel Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $22.76 $3,120.44
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0247 Rededicated Ben Fremer Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $22.76 $3,097.68
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0246 Rededicated Gerald Scott Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $11.38 $3,074.92
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0245 Rededicated Debi Fife Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $11.38 $3,063.54
Jul 31, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0244 Rededicated Daniel Hellerman Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $11.38 $3,052.16
Jul 28, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0296 Rededicated David Westrick Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $85.55 $3,040.78
Jul 1, 2026 WDSTK2029MAY0024 Expense Google Google Workspace Business Starter, Jun 2026 usage -$8.40 $2,955.23
Jun 30, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0291 Rededicated Ann Litrel Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $42.78 $2,963.63
Jun 26, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0289 Expense Stephanie Notarthomas 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$34.22 $2,920.85
Jun 22, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0259 Rededicated Mike Litrel Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $113.82 $2,955.07
Jun 11, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0260 Expense Curtis Dickinson 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$227.64 $2,841.25
Jun 11, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0256 Expense Ty Yorke 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$56.91 $3,068.89
Jun 5, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0243 Expense Matthew Cargle 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$5.69 $3,125.80
Jun 3, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0261 Expense Tim Williamson 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$751.22 $3,131.49
Jun 3, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0249 Expense Debbie Perdue 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$22.76 $3,882.71
Jun 2, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0307 Expense Tara Daigle 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$85.55 $3,905.47
Jun 2, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0306 Expense Tara Daigle 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$56.91 $3,991.02
Jun 1, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0287 Expense Jose Castaneda 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$34.22 $4,047.93
Jun 1, 2026 WDSTK2029MAY0023 Expense Google Google Workspace Business Starter, May 2026 usage -$8.40 $4,082.15
May 30, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0267 Rededicated Mark Caldwell Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $6.39 $4,090.55
May 30, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0250 Rededicated Jennifer Stockton Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $22.76 $4,084.16
May 29, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0285 Rededicated Matthew Nicklin Rededicated/Refused Refund Check $20.53 $4,061.40
May 29, 2026 WDSTK2025MAY0301 Expense Keating Brothers Construction 2025 Cycle Close-Out Contribution Refund -$171.10 $4,040.87