Election 2014: State Treasurer Hopeful Announces Ethics Plan
Jul 21, 2014 at 4:50 AM Jul 21, 2014 at 10:02 AM
LITTLE ROCK — Democratic candidate for state treasurer Karen Sealy Garcia on Monday unveiled a "code of ethics" she said she would establish for employees of the treasurer's office and vendors who do business with the office.
The proposed code, a response to ethical problems that led to the resignation and criminal conviction of former Democratic state Treasurer Martha Shoffner, includes prohibiting anyone in the office from accepting gifts from any person or company doing business or hoping to do business with the office.
Republican candidate for treasurer Dennis Milligan, who proposed a gifts ban in February, said Monday he was glad Garcia "finally" addressed the issue of ethics.
Shoffner resigned in May 2013 after FBI agents arrested her on public corruption charges. She was found guilty in March of accepting about $36,000 in bribes from a bond broker in exchange for directing a disproportionate share of the state's investment business to the broker's firm.
Witnesses at Shoffner's trial testified that Shoffner and others in her office commonly accepted gifts from brokers.
Garcia, a certified public accountant and member of the Hot Springs Board of Directors, stated in a news release Monday, "The last person elected to this office betrayed the public's trust and left a financial mess. My administration will enforce a rigorous code of ethics for employees and all vendors to reform the office and restore the people's trust."
In addition to a ban on gifts, Garcia said her plan includes hiring only experienced and competent financial managers; reporting all transactions and all bids from brokers daily on the office's website; only dealing with brokers and companies offering the best investment opportunities; and providing no special favors or considerations to anyone.
She also said her plan calls for training employees on ethical issues; allowing the office's electronic media to be used for business purposes only; banning removal of the office's records from the premises except for business purposes; prohibiting employees from having a financial interest or ownership in a company that does business with the office; and protecting employees who report unethical behavior from retaliation.
"I am a professional accountant, not a professional politician. During my years as an accountant for a Fortune 100 company I earned a reputation as a 'no-nonsense' accountant, and that is exactly what we need in the office of state treasurer," stated Garcia, who worked for the timber company Weyerhaeuser for 26 years before retiring last year.
Milligan, the Saline County circuit clerk, owner of a water treatment company and former chairman of the state Republican Party, said Monday in an email, "I'm glad my Democrat opponent, Mrs. Garcia, finally decided ethics are an important issue in this campaign. Especially considering the mess her fellow Democrat Martha Shoffner left behind."'
Milligan's campaign staff said he soon will announce additional plans to prevent future corrupt practices in the treasurer's office.
Milligan was in a Republican primary race with state Rep. Dennis Baird, R-Lowell, when he announced his plan for a no-gifts policy in February. Garcia had no Democratic opponent.
Garcia and Milligan will face Libertarian candidate Chris Hayes of Little Rock in the Nov. 4 general election.