The three candidates for state treasurer say a strict code of ethics is needed to restore credibility to the office after the former treasurer was found guilty of bribery and extortion.
The former treasurer, Martha Shoffner, a Democrat, was found guilty in March of taking about $36,000 from a bond broker in exchange for directing state investments to the broker's firm between 2009 and 2013. Shortly after being arrested in an FBI sting operation that included an informant filming Shoffner taking $6,000 hidden inside a pie box, she resigned as treasurer.
Karen Garcia, of Hot Springs, the Democratic nominee for the office, on Monday unveiled a comprehensive code of ethics plan for the office that covers all employees and any companies that may do business with the office.
"The last person elected to this office betrayed the public's trust and left a financial mess. My administration will enforce a rigorous code of ethics for employees and all vendors to reform the office and restore the people's trust," said Garcia in a news release.
"My plan prohibits employees, and the state treasurer, from receiving any gifts from anyone doing business with the office, requires full transparency on all bids and has a code of ethics for any company wishing to do business with the state."
"I'm glad my Democrat opponent, Mrs. Garcia, finally decided ethics are an important issue in this campaign. Especially considering the mess her fellow Democrat Martha Shoffner left behind," Republican nominee Dennis Milligan said Tuesday.
"We released an ethics plan in February and I'm proud that Mrs. Garcia has decided to follow our challenge. We challenged her in February to come up with a plan, so we're amused and thrilled that she decided to follow our leadership," Milligan said.
Garcia said her ethics plan is not in response to Milligan. Milligan, who lives in Benton, is the Saline County circuit clerk.
"From the time I filed for office, and in all my public speaking, I have identified that I have developed a code of ethics plan, that it was in draft form and I would work through it and when it was ready, I would post it on the website and publicly release it," Garcia said Tuesday.
Garcia said that from the time she filed for the treasurer's position, releasing a code of ethics plan has been her intention because of what had happened in the treasurer's office.
"It was very sad that the last elected treasurer left the office in disgrace and a mess. I plan to use my 30 years of experience to bring reform to the office, and this has been my plan all along," she said.
In February, Milligan released an ethics plan stating that, should he be elected, neither he nor any member of his staff would be allowed to accept gifts from people who do business with the treasurer's office.
"More than $65 million a day flows through that office. It not only looks bad for office employees to be accepting gifts from brokers and others the office does business with, but it is just wrong," Milligan said in his February statement.
"When elected, I will institute a 'no gifts' policy on my first day in office. This public office has been tainted with deceit and corruption, and I will take every step necessary to restore the people's trust in this elected position again," he said.
In her release, Garcia said the "state treasurer and all employees are prohibited from accepting gifts, food or any form of entertainment from anyone or company that does business, or hopes to do business," with the treasurer's office.
The release also said that there will be no cronyism, all transactions will be reported daily on the official website, and every bid from every broker will be reported daily. She said that only brokers or companies that provide the best investment opportunities will be considered; there will be no special favors; only suppliers committed to obeying the law in conducting business will be allowed to deal with the treasurer's office; and only suppliers demonstrating ethical behavior will be allowed to do business with the office.
Milligan said in his release that "not only will there not be any impropriety in the office when I'm elected treasurer, I won't even allow the appearance of impropriety. Making the office more transparent in its business is just one thing I will do. Holding myself and my staff to a higher level of professional conduct is another."
Garcia, who serves in a non-partisan position on the Hot Springs Board of Directors, said the treasurer's office is not a place for politics, and she has received the support of Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
"When you go to the bank and have financial matters to be taken care of, you don't ask if they have a party affiliation; when you go to get your taxes prepared, or you're a small business owner and need financial assistance, you want the most qualified person handling your financial records. That's why I'm doing this and why I took early retirement from Weyerhaeuser and am working across the state to be the next state treasurer and restore the trust of all the people in Arkansas," she said.
"I think a code of ethics should be a requirement, and as treasurer that's what I will do," she said.
Chris Hayes, of Mabelvale, the Libertarian Party candidate for the treasurer's position, said he agreed that a code of ethics plan is needed for the office.
"I think there is no room for gifts. I don't think it's a good idea for people who are working for the state to accept gifts from anyone trying to do business with the state or that office," he said.
He said he believes it is time for the residents of Arkansas to "look closely at who we want in the office."
"Do we want to continue what appears to be a lot of favoritism, 'I'll scratch your back, if you'll scratch mine,' or do we want someone that does what benefits all Arkansans?" he asked.
Even though he is running as a Libertarian, Hayes said he doesn't look at the treasurer's position as Democrat, Republican or Libertarian.
"The treasurer needs to do what the state of Arkansas has set as law and do the best they can with the highest of ethics for that office. In my opinion, ethics should be very high," he said.
Local on 07/23/2014