O.C.G.A. § 21-5-30(g) reads (in relevant part)
“Neither a candidate who is not a public officer nor his or her campaign committee may lawfully accept a campaign contribution until…[the candidate]…has filed a declaration of intention to accept campaign contributions which shall include the name and address of the candidate and the names and addresses of his or her campaign committee officers, if any.”
The public officer need not file anything further in order to lawfully accept campaign contributions. Since the opponent is a candidate who is not a public officer he must always file a declaration of intention to accept campaign contributions before such contributions may lawfully be accepted.