A state Ethics Commission investigation into the actions of Gaffney Board of Public Works General Manager Donnie Hardin found no wrongdoing — again.

Hardin is accused of possibly embezzling funds by allegedly being reimbursed more than once for fuel costs as well as allegedly using public money to buy vehicles for his two daugh-ters and a truck for his father in a growing list of complaints filed by former Gaffney Board of Public Works candidate Dan Lawrence.

Lawrence also claimed Hardin committed possible ethics violations by allegedly using util-ity personnel and equipment to build a three-car garage and pool.

In a ruling dated Aug. 5, State Ethics Commission Executive Director Herb Hayden dismissed the charges, saying “the commission doesn’t conduct investigations based on innuen-do or rumor.”

“There must be clearly articulated facts which would, if true, be viola-tions of law,” Hayden said.

In a separate 4-page com-plaint, Hayden ruled that Lawrence failed to allege suf-ficient facts to constitute a violation of ethic laws.

In the complaint, Lawrence alleges, in part, Hardin altered four pages of graphs of a Rock Hill utility survey, coordinated a letter writing campaign against him and had his father, a Board employee, collect petition sig-natures for incumbent com-missioners.

Some other allegations in the 4-page complaint were tossed because they are being addressed in pre-viously filed complaints.

Hardin came down hard on Lawrence.

“I believe Dan Lawrence and (commissioner Brenda Earls) are using harassment, spreading false allegations and misinformation, and abus-ing the public forum to try to discredit the Board, the other commissioners, Board manage-ment and employees as well as our families for personal vengeance and political gain,” Hardin said.

Hayden has said he’s still investigating other complaints Lawrence filed against Hardin as well as commissioners Roger Harris and Grady Randolph, operations engineer Kim Fortner, warehouse manager Jane Byars, human resource official Gloria Baker and bookkeeper Yvonnie Gordon.

Those rulings could come next month.

Lawrence, who lost to incumbent Randolph last year, filed some 20 complaints several months ago. He filed more complaints June 29.

The BPW staffers, officials and commission-ers all waived their confidentiality clause to make the public aware of the complaints.

State law requires all parties to keep quiet about the complaint until they are resolved or unless the party under investigation approves.

The maximum sanction that could be imposed is a $2,000 fine for each violation.

Last year, state law enforcement officials investigated Lawrence’s claims but found no wrongdoing by elected BPW officials or staffers.