Hilda Railey may be the registered agent for Troup Mothers for a Safe Community, but it was Dan Lee, former state senator and attorney for Sheriff Donny Turner and Clerk of Court Jackie Taylor that paid for it.

The Mothers group and its activities came to light last week after a mailer was sent out, sponsored by the group, with false information about sheriff candidate James Woodruff. Railey, a local Republican, was the listed agent and Debbie Davis, who is not related to Troup County Commissioner Buck Davis, was listed as president.

Former state representative Jeff Brown, who has come out in public support of Woodruff, filed an open records request and found that Lee had paid the group’s registration with the Georgia Secretary of State with a credit card.

The corporation was formed with the Georgia Secretary of State Aug. 8.

Woodruff and Turner face off in a runoff for the Republican nomination for sheriff today.

Lee is a three-term state senator and attorney, first elected in 1998. He lost reelection in 2004 to another state Senator, Seth Harp, after redistricting gave much of Lee’s region to the greater Columbus area.

Lee was one of four Democrats who switched parties in 2002 and gave control of the state Senate to Republicans. Turner also switched from Democrat to Republican that year. Lee served on the transition team for current Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and works as a lobbyist.

Lee could not be reached for comment this morning.