Arkansas down ballot state executive elections, 2014

Arkansas Down Ballot State Executive Elections
Primary Date: May 20, 2014
General Election Date: November 4, 2014
Table of contents
Treasurer Auditor Commissioner of State Lands Key deadlines Recent news
Arkansas State Executive Elections Top Ballot Governor • Lieutenant Governor Secretary of State • Attorney General Down Ballot Treasurer, Auditor, Commissioner of State Lands

Three down ballot state executive positions were up for election in the state of Arkansas in 2014. The three down ballot races on the ballot in 2014 were the Arkansas Treasurer, the Arkansas Auditor and the Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston (R) was the lone incumbent to run for re-election among these down ballot offices. Charles Robinson (D) was appointed in 2013 to replace Martha Ann Shoffner (D) and was ineligible to seek a full term in the treasurer's office. Charlie Daniels (D) did not file for re-election in 2014, leaving the state auditor's office open to a new officeholder.

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Arkansas utilizes an open primary system. Registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Treasurer

General election

Dennis Milligan - Saline County Circuit Clerk
Karen Sealy Garcia
Chris Hayes

Ineligible to run

Charles Robinson - Incumbent

Lost in the primary

Duncan Baird - District 96 Representative in the Arkansas House of Representatives

Results

General election

Treasurer of Arkansas, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Dennis Milligan	56.4%	466,959
	Democratic	Karen Sealy Garcia	37.3%	308,663
	Libertarian	Chris Hayes	6.4%	52,640
Total Votes				828,262
Election results via Arkansas Secretary of State

Primary election

Republican primary

Arkansas Treasurer, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Dennis Milligan	53.5%	86,994
Duncan Baird	46.5%	75,673
Total Votes		162,667
Election results via Arkansas Secretary of State.

Democratic primary

• Uncontested

Duties

The office of treasurer acts as the state's "bank;" it accepts and processes all receipts in the form of taxes, fees and other payments to the state, and disburses that money from over 400 fund accounts to over 200 state agencies. In fiscal year 2010, the treasurer's office processed $16.2 billion in receipts and $16.4 billion in state warrants (outlays). The treasurer is also responsible for providing state aid to local governments, which amounted to $1.3 billion in FY 2010. It also supervises the $894 million Arkansas state investment fund, which earned $43.6 million in interest in 2010. The treasurer makes a report "to the governor every biennium on the condition of the treasury and its operations."

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $470,012 during the election. This information was last updated on May 11, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Dennis Milligan	Arkansas Treasurer		$211,369
Karen Sealy Garcia	Arkansas Treasurer		$160,119
Duncan Baird	Arkansas Treasurer		$98,524
Chris Hayes	Arkansas Treasurer		$0
Grand Total Raised			$470,012

Campaign themes

All three candidates for treasurer participated in a question-and-answer session with the Times Record. The following sections quote their responses to the publication's question about their qualifications for the office.

Karen Sealy Garcia

“	As a certified public accountant, I’m the only candidate with the right kind of experience to protect the taxpayers’ money. As a “no-nonsense” accountant, I’ll reform the office by implementing new financial controls to avoid the embarrassments of the last person elected to this office. Unfortunately my opponent, Dennis Milligan, has a long track record of unethical and embarrassing behavior. Arkansas can’t afford to have Milligan’s embarrassing antics in the state treasurer’s office. From his being caught blackmailing a state representative at a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop, to costing the taxpayers $90,000 due to his incompetent management, Dennis Milligan has proven that he can’t be trusted with taxpayers’ money. Arkansans can’t afford to go from a Pie Box to a Doughnut Box. As state treasurer, I’ll protect the taxpayers’ money, make sound financial investments and restore the public’s trust. (Editor’s note: Milligan has not been charged with blackmail or any other crime.)	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Chris Hayes

“	I am the best candidate to answer to the people, without baggage of owing political favors to any party, thus insuring the integrity of the office of treasurer. Libertarians are quite independent thinking, but agree less government is by far better on those governed. Make real changes in Arkansas: Stop spending a two sided coin. Vote Chris Hayes treasurer.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Dennis Milligan

“	The state treasurer’s office has been in one political party’s control since Reconstruction. It’s time this position had a new occupant that will approach it from a fresh perspective. The people — not a political party — should be in control of this office. The simple truth is, I come from the private sector that is extremely customer service orientated. Voters want accountability, results and common sense solutions all done within a spending discipline. I have the business background and experience to implement these principles and deliver them with no excuses. I have been blessed with success in my professional business life. I am running for this office because — like a lot of Arkansans — I was sickened by the corruption that occurred under Shoffner. I am not running for this office to further a political party’s desires or financially enrich myself, but to restore trust and integrity.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Auditor

Candidates

General election

Andrea Lea - District 71 Representative in the Arkansas House of Representatives
Regina Stewart Hampton - State Auditor's Office Employee in the Unclaimed Property Division
Brian Leach

Retiring

Charlie Daniels - Incumbent

Lost in the primary

Ken Yang - former campaign manager for Mark Martin's election to Arkansas Secretary of State

Results

General election

Arkansas Auditor, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Andrea Lea	57.2%	471,211
	Democratic	Regina Stewart Hampton	37.4%	308,285
	Libertarian	Brian Leach	5.4%	44,702
Total Votes				824,198
Election results via Arkansas Secretary of State

Primary election

Republican primary

Arkansas Auditor, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Andrea Lea	68.2%	111,998
Ken Yang	31.8%	52,293
Total Votes		164,291
Election results via Arkansas Secretary of State.

Democratic primary

• Uncontested

Duties

The auditor acts as the state's general accountant and supervises "all fund and appropriation balances of all state agencies," in addition to writing the warrants, or checks, used to pay the state's liabilities. The auditor's office ensures the solvency of each state agency and "makes sure each agency appropriation has a sufficient balance before the warrants are released." It also acts as disbursing officer for some federal funds destined for state judicial or legislative actors, including judges, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The auditor also sits on the State Board of Finance, the Commercial Mobile Radio Services/Emergency Telephone Services Board and the Boards of Continuing Education for County and Circuit Clerks, County Treasurers and County Collectors. He or she is also an ex- officio board member of the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System and the Arkansas Teachers Retirement System.

In addition to his or her other duties, the auditor also manages the state's unclaimed property division; it holds such property for three years before depositing that property in the state's general fund.

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $285,572 during the election. This information was last updated on May 11, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Andrea Lea	Arkansas Auditor		$127,760
Regina Stewart Hampton	Arkansas Auditor		$106,109
Ken Yang	Arkansas Auditor		$51,703
Brian Leach	Arkansas Auditor		$0
Grand Total Raised			$285,572

Campaign themes

All three candidates for auditor participated in a question-and-answer session with the Times Record. The following sections quote their responses to the publication's question about their qualifications for the office.

Regina Stewart Hampton

“	EXPERIENCE MATTERS!! As the only candidate in this race with any actual experience in the auditor’s office I am the most qualified. I have served the public for 13 years with full transparency. My morals and ethics are beyond reproach. I am not a politician, nor do I plan to become one. I am a servant leader. The last three state auditors have all served with distinction and all three endorse my candidacy. I am grateful for their support. As the wife of a Methodist minister, I believe my faith and my values are more closely aligned with the average Arkansan. My faith makes me and it is what will guide my leadership as the next state auditor for the state of Arkansas.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Andrea Lea

“	I have acquired a comprehensive view of government and have been consistent in creating better and more efficient government. As chair of State Agencies Committee, co-chair of Personnel Committee and member of Budget Committee, I initiated smart reductions to agency budgets that corrected personnel and payroll issues. As a legislator, I was part of the team that successfully led legislation to shore up our state’s retirement funds. And as auditor, I will continue to work to protect the viability of our state’s retirement funds. Nearly two dozen of the bills I sponsored in the past general session were approved by my peers and signed into law by Gov. (Mike) Beebe. From tax cuts to preventing voter misconduct to improving the working conditions for county elected officials throughout the state, my record shows I have worked to make state government more efficient during my service in the Arkansas House of Representatives.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Brian Leach

“	I don’t support wasteful programs and ballooning budgets. I believe if there is a tax surplus, then the government took too much money from citizens and that money should be returned. We all work very hard for our money. As auditor, I should be able to find areas where money is being wasted. I believe that government officials at every level should ask themselves, “would this decision provide more freedom to the citizens?” After all, government is by the people and for the people.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Commissioner of State Lands

General election

John Thurston - Incumbent
Mark Robertson
Elvis D. Presley - Elvis Presley impersonator and auto-mechanic

Results

General election

Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Thurston Incumbent	57.2%	471,848
	Democratic	Mark Robertson	36.6%	302,048
	Libertarian	Elvis D. Presley	6.2%	51,518
Total Votes				825,414
Election results via Arkansas Secretary of State

Primary election

Democratic primary

• Uncontested

Republican primary

• Uncontested

Duties

The Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands controls all landed interests of the state of Arkansas. This includes all lands forfeited to the state for payment of taxes. These lands can be sold, or they may be donated to state agencies, state colleges and universities and local governments for public use. If the state claims land and there is dispute about the accuracy of the claim location, the Commissioner of State Lands is in charge of surveying those lands to make an accurate claim for the state. The Commissioner's office also is in charge of mineral leasing for most state owned lands and waterways. The Commissioner serves as the chairperson for the Natural Resources Commission. The Commission seeks to benefit the state through land leases while also protecting the environment.

Additionally, the commissioner has duties pertaining to historical preservation. This includes being in charge of materials (including books, maps, plats, etc.) pertaining to "all internal improvement, seminary, saline, and swamp and overflowed lands." The commissioner also has the responsibility to produce township maps for any township including the previously mentioned land types. These maps can be used by anyone "interested in state lands or desiring to purchase any state lands."

Campaign finance

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $161,901 during the election. This information was last updated on May 11, 2015.

Campaign Contribution Totals
Candidate	Office	Result	Contributions
Mark Robertson	Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands		$101,755
John Thurston	Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands		$60,146
Elvis D. Presley	Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands		$0
Grand Total Raised			$161,901

Campaign themes

All three candidates for state lands commissioner participated in a question-and-answer session with the Times Record. The following sections quote their responses to the publication's question about their qualifications for the office.

Elvis D. Presley

“	I am open to measures needed to produce a better way of life for everyone in Arkansas, while maintaining the natural beauty of the state.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Mark Robertson

“	I’m the only candidate whose education and career has focused on land, land planning, managing our natural resources, and helping communities with land issues and economic progress. Over three decades of experience have provided me with insight to the enormous potential the office holds and an understanding of how we can make it more relevant. I’m the only candidate talking about how we can truly reform the land commissioner’s office, not just tweak it, so that we have a more efficient and productive system investing in our public schools and local communities.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

John Thurston

“	I believe I am the best candidate for this office as I have served in this capacity since 2011. I have led the way in making the office more efficient through technological advances and have returned record amounts of tax dollars back to the counties of origin. I have also worked to simplify our processes where the public is involved, creating easier transactions and less waste. I have continued to develop the Natural Resources, Historical and Waterways divisions in the office by providing good stewardship of these resources and fulfilling our statutory responsibility.	”
—Times Record, (2014)

Ballot access for political parties

See also: Arkansas process to establish a political party

In Arkansas, the process to establish a political party is tied to the votes cast in a presidential or gubernatorial election. In order to initially put candidates on the ballot, political parties must submit a petition with 10,000 signatures. Then, in order to maintain that status beyond the election year in which they submit such a petition, their candidate for governor or president must receive at least 3 percent of the votes cast for that office.

In 2012, both the Libertarian and Green Parties of Arkansas qualified to put candidates on the ballot, but then their candidates did not receive enough votes for the parties to maintain their ballot status. In the fall of 2013, both parties submitted new petitions and were qualified to put candidates on the 2014 ballot. In order to maintain their status as political parties without needing to petition for the 2016 elections, their candidates for governor needed to receive at least 3 percent of the vote. Frank Gilbert (L) received 1.9 percent of the gubernatorial vote and Josh Drake (G) received 1.1 percent in the election.

Key deadlines

Deadline	Event
March 3, 2014	Candidate filing deadline
May 20, 2014	Primary election
June 10, 2014	Primary runoff election
November 4, 2014	General election
November 19, 2014	Deadline for the county board of election commissioners to certify election results
January 13, 2015	Inauguration day for state executive officials in general election

Recent news

Auditor

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Arkansas + auditor + elections"

Arkansas Auditor Election News Feed

Commissioner of State Lands

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Arkansas + commissioner + state + lands + elections"

Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands Election News Feed

Treasurer

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Arkansas + treasurer + elections"

Arkansas Treasurer Election News Feed

See also

• Arkansas state executive official elections, 2014
• Arkansas Treasurer
• Arkansas Auditor
• Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands

External links

Suggest a link

• Arkansas State Treasury
• Arkansas State Auditor
• Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands