Pair Of Party ‘Insiders’ Seek Treasurer’s Post

GARCIA MILLIGAN SEEK OPEN SEAT

While the race for Arkansas State Treasurer is not on the mind of most Arkansans, Karen Garcia and Dennis Milligan are hoping to change that before November.

Garcia, the Democratic nominee and long- time Democratic Party treasurer, is running against Milligan, a GOP insider and former Party boss. Milligan is currently the Saline County Circuit Clerk down in Benton.

Both candidates, on their web pages and in campaign materials, offer fresh ideas and ways to make the office more transparent to the public.

That may be a good idea, given the negative publicity, arrest and ultimate resignation of former Treasurer Martha Shoffner of Newport last spring.

The “pie- box” scandal brought out howls of protest from lawmakers and citizens alike to consolidate the office but that’s not possible without a Constitutional Amendment and thus a state-wide vote.

The GOP endured a testy primary with state Rep. Duncan Baird of Lowell, a term-limited financial planner, taking on Milligan, a former state GOP head and a two-term Saline County Clerk. There was a little dust-up over a late night visit to the state capitol dome with accusations ranging from bullying or veiled threats between Milligan and Baird.

In the May 20 GOP Primary, Milligan, who has a large ultra conservative base in Central Arkansas, emerged the victor.

Garcia, a Hot Springs city director and retired accountant with International Paper, resigned her spot as the treasurer of the Democrat Party of Arkansas to run for the spot. She recently unveiled a plan — a Code of Ethics — for the office and is running all across the state, asking the public to elect a trained professional in money matters, Garcia is a CPA, rather than elect a circuit clerk with no college degree or real professional money management skills.

Both out on the stump are confident they will win in November.

Milligan, the son of a truck driver and homemaker, grew up in Little Rock, and attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His web page says he is a successful small- business owner having started his company, Water Treatment Service (WTS) in 1985. WTS, now 28 years old, has 10 employees and has grown from a central Arkansas area based company to serving customers in 17 states. Milligan is also a real estate developer and home builder.

Milligan joined the Republican Party in 2000 and ran twice for state House in 2002 and 2004, losing both times. He served as Saline County Republican Party Chairman in 2005, as the Republican Party of Arkansas Treasurer and as Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas from 2007 to 2008.

Garcia said, “Our next elected State Treasurer must implement a vigorous Code of Ethics to restore the people’s faith and clean up the mess.”

She has real business experience implementing checks and balances that prevent fraud, waste and abuse. Once elected she says she will implement a Business Code of Ethics Policy for the State Treasurer’s office.

Under the plan there will be: “No Cronyism. We will only hire experienced and competent financial managers. Also full transparency: All transactions will be reported daily on the official website. And No Gifts: The State Treasurer and all employees are prohibited from accepting gifts from anyone or company that does business with the state.” Also she says: “No Insider Dealing and No Special Favors: Only brokers or companies that provide the best investment opportunities will be considered.”

Milligan has not published such an ethics plan for the office.