There is a new campaign finance filing system that local candidates use. There have been a lot of challenges. The State of Arkansas has never been known for sleek interactive interfaces for its reporting systems. The governor signed a new bill into law and turned it over to the code poets to hatch a new website portal for candidates to use. There are still growing pains within the system itself.
The new law also included extra filing dates and a new form candidates file if they cross a $5,000 threshold. Candidates also received three calendars with different dates.
With all this change, after nine campaigns and at least eighteen campaign finance reports, I filed all my campaign finance information on the February 24 report. I missed the new report on February 20 that reported expenses for the period between January 1 through January 30. Ugh.
I do not pay an elite political consulting firm who does everything for me — including filing finance reports. I did some campaign consulting before I stepped into elected office. My personal code of ethics does not allow me to do paid consulting as an elected official. There are too many opportunities where it could hinder me from accomplishing something my constituents need or appear as a conflict of interest.
I do not pay an elite political consulting firm who does everything for me — including filing finance reports.
I have a team of smart, politically engaged volunteers, but my campaign is grassroots. It isn’t perfect, but we get it done with shoe leather, grit, face-to-face conversations with voters, and prayer. I perform most of the campaign operations, design, paperwork, and planning. I filed the paperwork wrong. The mistake was all mine. I owned it.
I filed the paperwork wrong. The mistake was all mine. I owned it.
I learned about it on the morning of February 27 when the reporter from the NWADG called me for a statement. My opponent had issued a press release that morning. It was brutal misrepresentation of the facts. My opponent retains an elite Little Rock political consulting firm known for their ruthless, vicious campaigns. They comb through every detail of their clients’ opponent’s life, past and present. I am confident they also analyzed the February 24 report before they released the February 27 press release and knew all expenses and donations had already been submitted.
I am confident they also analyzed the February 24 report before they released the February 27 press release and knew all expenses and donations had already been submitted.
They seized a golden opportunity. They went full throttle, hoping to gaslight voters. “My opponent admits to breaking the law.” “Ethics complaint on Smith has been filed, hearing on her ethics violation will follow, and investigation & fines pending … I will continue to be transparent in my campaign finance reporting, even if my opponent continues to break the law by hiding their funding from the public.” “My opponent runs from accountability. I am disappointed, but not surprised by her … bringing more attention to that fact she has violated ethics rules.” “… her ethics violation has to do with her hiding her campaign finances, and not revealing who gave her money or what she spent it on. Why do you think that she didn’t want that to come to light?”
Most voters saw through it. I even texted Austin as soon as I found out and let him know my actual mistake. I finished the exchange with these words: “Just wanted to be honest and transparent with you first.”
Just to be clear: For candidates and campaigns, missing a filing deadline was the equivalent of getting a speeding ticket for a few miles over the speed limit.
For candidates and campaigns, missing a filing deadline was the equivalent of getting a speeding ticket for a few miles over the speed limit, especially the first time.
I posted on my Facebook page about the missed report within an hour and placed a call to the Arkansas Ethics Commission. I posted an explanation on my Facebook page (read it here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DWJjFZVUR).
By 1:35 pm, posted this update: “I spoke with an attorney at the Arkansas Ethics Commission. He acknowledged that my February 24 reports contains all required expenses and donations since January 1. He was unsure if the new system would allow me to file the original February 20 report and an addendum to the February 24 report I filed. He advised me to wait until they have a meeting after the election to see what, if any, action would be on my part. He said multiple calendars and issues with the new system have tripped up many candidates.”
The newspaper did a tasteful, factual job of reporting on both candidates’ campaign finance reports and then covered my report error later in the article. You can read that article here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B2gZQFU93/.
I responded to my opponent’s Facebook posts about the issue with my Facebook post with the facts. Since he cares about transparency, I thought he would like an update. He deleted it, twice. He has since blocked my elected official Facebook page as well my personal Facebook profile.
Elected officials don’t always get it right. But how they react when they make a mistake is a true test of character. I was honest with you, admitted my mistake, and now I am moving to correct it — just like a responsible elected official would do.
Elected officials don’t always get it right. But how they react when they make a mistake is a true test of character. I was honest with you, admitted my mistake, and now I am moving to correct it — just like a responsible elected official would do.
Here are the two campaign finance reports I’ve filed. They include all donations and expenditures for my campaign through February 21, 2026. I’ll add the final campaign finance report after the campaign is done.
If you would like to donate to my grass roots campaign, click here for details. Every Arkansas taxpayer gets a $50 political tax credit ($100 for couples filing jointly). Please donate that to my campaign and put that to use.