School takeover amendment fight a family affair for Gov. Deal

Denise Deal, Governor Nathan Deal’s daughter-in-law, is a top fundraiser for many Republican lawmakers and the non-profit funding the push to pass the governor’s Opportunity School District constitutional amendment. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Denise Deal, Governor Nathan Deal’s daughter-in-law, is a top fundraiser for many Republican lawmakers and the non-profit funding the push to pass the governor’s Opportunity School District constitutional amendment. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed constitutional amendment to let the state intervene in chronically low-performing schools is faring poorly in at least one poll, but it’s not because the governor and his family aren’t working the issue.

The results on an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll released Friday found likely voters siding nearly 2-1 against Amendment 1.

Deal has made the rounds of the state talking up the amendment and has helped raise money for the pro-Opportunity School District campaign from deep-pocket donors. And The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday that his daughter-in-law's company, Southern Magnolia Capital, is raising money for the nonprofit that is heavily bankrolling the campaign to pass the Opportunity School District amendment, which is on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Denise Deal's business is being paid a 5 percent commission on what it raises for Georgia Leads Inc., which had contributed $850,000 to the campaign as of Sept. 30.

Filings with the Internal Revenue Service last year showed Georgia Leads estimates it will take in about $9 million over three years and spend $450,000 on fundraising activities.

To read more, check out the full story at MyAJC.com.