Waltons backed defeated candidate

BENTONVILLE — Three members of the Walton family gave $6,400 to Jim Webb’s campaign for mayor in the week before the general election, according to final campaign contribution and expenditure reports.

Tom and Steuart Walton each contributed $2,700, the maximum amount permitted by law. Jim Walton gave $1,000.

Stephanie Orman defeated Webb by receiving 63 percent, or 3,226 votes, in the Dec. 4 runoff election. Webb received 1,873 votes, or 37 percent.

Orman replaces Bob McCaslin who retired after 12 years as mayor.

The final contribution and expenditure reports were due to the Benton County Clerk’s Office by Dec. 31. The reports covered activity from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6.

Preliminary reports were filed Oct. 30 and covered activity before Oct. 28. Reports for the runoff election were filed at the end of November and detailed financial activity from Nov. 7 through Nov. 23.

The Waltons’ donations were nearly 40 percent of the $16,150 Webb raised in the final days before the general election.

Ivan and Betty Lou Crossland of Crossland Construction in Columbus, Kan., also gave the maximum contribution. Each gave $2,700 to Webb.

Better Arkansas Future, a political action committee in Springdale, gave $2,700.

Conway real estate developer Ken Compton gave Webb $1,000. Virginia Crossland, a political consultant in Springdale, donated $500, and Rogers real estate agent Patsy Simmons gave $150.

Orman received one $100 donation in the same time period. It was from Gerald Holland of Springhill, La.

She contributed $2,868 to her campaign. Webb didn’t report any personal contributions or loans.

Orman’s only expense the week prior to the election was $1,119 for internet advertising, $500 of which was for exposure on Facebook.

Webb’s largest expense that week was $20,000 to Red Iron Strategies in Springdale for consulting fees, according to his report. It was nearly 73 percent of his $27,443 in expenses.

He also spent $4,355 on advertising. Most went to Facebook, some went to Google ads.

His other main costs were for office supplies and entertainment.

The report shows $1,726 was spent at Butcher and Pint, a Bentonville restaurant, the night of the general election.

Webb spent nearly five and a half times more than Orman for the Nov. 6 general election. They spent $66,072 and $12,076, respectively, according to the preliminary and final reports.

Web spent an additional $23,242 between the general election and runoff election. Orman spent $9,272.

Orman had $4,730 remaining after the runoff election. Webb had $4,851.

Remaining money, or carryover funds, can be used by the candidates for future office or campaign expenses, according to the state Ethics Commission.

Surplus funds may be turned over to the Treasurer of Arkansas for the General Revenue Fund Account for the State Apportionment Fund, an organized political party, a 501c3 nonprofit organization or to the contributors of the candidate’s campaign.