Candidates spent almost $85K on district judge’s race

Joe Graham outspent Tamra Barrett almost four to one during the final 10 days of the Division 1 Garland County District Court judge’s race, according to final campaign contribution and expenditure reports that were due Monday.

Graham, the county’s chief deputy prosecuting attorney, defeated Barrett by almost 20 percentage points, polling 7,196 of the 12,120 votes cast in the May 22 race to serve the final two years of the late David Switzer’s term.

The $49,019 that Barrett, a parttime public defender, reported in expenses during the campaign surpassed the $35,317 Graham reported, but he used most of his resources at the end of the campaign.

He reported $24,614 in expenses from the period 10 days before the election to June 22, dwarfing the $6,509 Barrett listed over that time. Consulting fees of $15,695 were the biggest expense Graham reported during the 10 days leading up to the election and in the weeks after. He

also listed $2,620 for robocalls and $1,310 for a paid 12-person staff.

The bulk of Barrett’s spending occurred from April 1 to 10 days before the election. She reported $23,244 in expenses over that time, including $6,968 for newspaper advertising, $5,010 for cable TV advertising and

$2,820 for radio advertising. Graham reported $4,979 in expenses over that time.

Barrett raised more money during the campaign, reporting

$40,724 in contributions compared to Graham’s $26,383. Both campaigns were partially financed by the candidates, with Graham reporting a $20,000 loan he made to his election effort May 11 and Barrett listing $7,500 in loans she made in April and May.

The state’s campaign finance rules allow candidates to solicit funds for retiring campaign debts. Campaign committees for nonpartisan judicial candidates have up to 45 days after the election to raise funds for retiring debt, according to the state’s code of judicial conduct.

District court judge is a parttime position paying $90,604 a year, according to the city of Hot Springs’ finance department.

District 22 House race

Mickey Gates outspent Don Pierce more than three to one in the May 22 Republican primary for Gates’ District 22 state House seat, which Gates won

2,327-1,356.

He reported $31,710 in expenses compared to Pierce’s

$9,534 in expenses. More than a third of the expenses Gates reported were spent at his business, Stonebridge Collection Inc. He reported spending

$11,746 for signs, banners and postcards he purchased from his promotional products company.

Candidates can use campaign funds for campaign-related expenses paid to businesses they own so long as they’re paying fair market value, the Arkansas Ethics Commission said.

The Arkansas State Police arrested Gates last week for his alleged failure to pay state income taxes or file a return from

2012 to 2017. The felony information Special Prosecutor Jake McQuary filed Monday charges Gates with six counts of failing to pay or file a state income tax return. Each count is a felony punishable by up to six years in prison.

Gates is alleged to owe

$259,841 in back taxes. The affidavit in support of his arrest warrant said he hasn’t filed a return since 2003, but a six-year statute of limitations on state tax offenses prevents him from being prosecuted for offenses prior to 2012.

Gates is facing Democratic nominee Kevin Rogers in the Nov. 6 general election. District 22 spans eastern Garland County and northern Saline County. It includes Hot Springs Village.

District 26 House race

Laurie Rushing outspent Ernie Hinz $30,211 to $17,409 in the May 22 Republican primary for her District 26 state House seat, which Rushing won 1,491-837.

She spent $7,000 during the final 10 days of the campaign compared to Hinz’ $599 in expenses. His campaign was busiest from April 1 to 10 days before the election, spending $9,424 compared to the $7,246 Rushing spent.

Rushing reported $33,885 in contributions and $20,000 of personal loans to her campaign. Hinz reported $16,052 in contributions and a $2,050 personal loan to his campaign.

Rushing will face Democratic nominee Alan Bruce Hughes, the state AFL-CIO president of operations and management, in the general election. District 26 includes southeast Garland County and Malvern and Bismarck in Hot Spring County.