The CommissionersABOUT THE COMMISSION
Information for Public
Guidance
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Ms. Elaine Black - BIOGRAPHY COMING SOON. |
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Ms. Catherine Johnson
- Appointed by Governor Mike Beebe (2007)
President – Catherine Johnson & Associates, Inc. –
1986-present| Catherine Johnson & Associates, Inc. was founded in 1986 to provide fundraising services to Arkansas non-profit organizations. Since that time, the firm has managed over $100 million in capital campaigns and annual fundraising programs. C.J. & A provides grant writing, capital campaign management, direct mail, major events, and planned giving to its clients. Over thirty non-profits have been served by C.J. & A, including the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, The Arc Arkansas, Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches, and others. C.J. & A also represents business leaders to achieve their fundraising goals with projects in which they have a personal interest.
Personal |
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Mr. Paul F. Dumas
is the owner of the Dumas Law Firm in Morrilton, Arkansas. Before
beginning his private practice in 1998, he served on the legislative
staff of Senator Tim Hutchinson in Washington D.C. He is a member
of the Arkansas Bar Association and is the past Chair of the Young
Lawyers’ Section of the Arkansas Bar Association. He co-chaired
Bridging the Gap, a workshop for newly licensed attorneys, for
two years and was a presenter for five years. He has twice been
named as a “Best of CLE” presenter for his presentations to the
Arkansas Bar Association and is a frequent public speaker for civic,
charitable and professional organizations. He is a 1999 recipient
of the Arkansas Bar Association’s “Golden Gavel” award for
outstanding service to the legal profession. In addition to his private practice, he is the former city attorney for the cities of Plumerville and Perryville. He also served as Judge for the city court of Oppelo from 2003-2009, and is a past president of the Conway County Bar Association. Since moving to Morrilton in 1998, he has been active on numerous boards related to civic and charitable organizations in Conway County, most recently serving a two-year tenure as the Chairman of the Conway County Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Dumas is an honor graduate of Ouachita Baptist University (1993) and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law (1996). He is married to the former Susan Calhoun of Morrilton and they have three sons, Witt (10), Greyson (5) and Tripp (2). |
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Rev. J. Barrington Minix - BIOGRAPHY COMING SOON. |
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Ms. Anna Sue Bray
- Appointed by Speaker of the House Robbie Wills (2010) BIOGRAPHY
COMING SOON |
The mission of the Arkansas Ethics Commission is to serve as the compliance and enforcement agency under Arkansas' standards of conduct and disclosure laws concerning candidates for public office, state and local public officials, lobbyists and committees, and individuals involved with initiatives, referendums and other matters referred to the voters.
The Commission promotes openness and accountability in government through a balanced approach to its statutory duties of interpreting, investigating compliance with and issuing sanctions for proven violations of Arkansas' ethics and public disclosure laws.
The Arkansas Ethics Commission was established in 1991 as a result of the voters' approval of Initiated Act I of 1990. The Commission is made up of five members who serve five-year staggered terms and are appointed by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, respectively. Members of the Commission serve without compensation, but may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
The Commission's staff is composed of:
1 Executive Director
2 Staff Attorneys
2 Directors of Compliance
1 Systems Administrator
1 Fiscal Officer
2 Administrative Assistants
The Commission's authorities and responsibilities are set out in Ark. Code Ann. §§ 7-6-217 and 218, and include: (1) drafting or reviewing and approving disclosure forms used by public officials, lobbyists, political action committees, candidates for office, and ballot and legislative question committees; (2) monitoring compliance with disclosure requirements; (3) issuing advisory opinions interpreting the ethics laws assigned to its jurisdiction; (4) investigating alleged violations of the law and determining whether a violation has occurred; (5) holding monthly public meetings and conducting public hearings; (6) issuing disciplinary action for violations of the law, or referring its findings to a prosecuting attorney for criminal proceedings; (7) answering questions regarding Arkansas ethics laws on a daily, informal basis; (8) preparing and distributing educational materials for candidates, elected and appointed officials, lobbyists, political action committees, and ballot and legislative question committees; (9) maintaining report files on all ballot question and legislative question committees registering in accordance with the Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referendums and Measures Referred to Voters and (10) responding to questions and requests for documents under the FOIA.
INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC GUIDANCE
The following was first posted online on June 30, 2003, in compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act of 2001.
The Arkansas Ethics Commission was established in 1991 as a result of the passage of Initiated Act 1 of 1990. The Commission is comprised of five Commissioners who enforce certain ethics, conflicts of interest, lobbying, campaign, campaign finance, and ballot question laws within the State of Arkansas. Specifically, the Commission has jurisdiction over the following:
Ark. Code Ann. § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6) and (7) (concerning “Elections”);
Ark. Code Ann. § 7-6-201 et seq. (entitled “Campaign Financing”);
Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-401 et seq. (entitled “Disclosure for Matters Referred To Voters”);\
Ark. Code Ann. § 21-1-401 through § 21-1-408 (concerning “Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses”);
Ark. Code Ann. § 21-8-301 through § 21-8-903 (referred to as “The Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials”); and
Ark. Code Ann. § 21-8-1001 et seq. (pertaining to “State Boards, Commissions, and Entities Receiving State Funds”).
Members of the
Commission serve five year terms and are appointed one each by the Governor, the
Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the President Pro Tempore of the
Senate, and the Speaker of the House. Commission members serve without
compensation, but may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred in the
performance of their official duties.
The Commission’s staff consists of a director, two staff attorneys, two
directors of compliance, one fiscal officer, one systems administrator, and two
administrative assistants, who are responsible for general administration and
operation of the Commission’s office.
This staff may make office
administrative procedure, act as spokesman for the Commission, receive
correspondence and correspond on behalf of the Commission, provide legal and
other research to the Commission, investigate allegations of violations of laws
under the Commission’s jurisdiction, and perform such other functions as the
Commission deems appropriate. The Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure
govern all proceedings before the Commission and are applicable to any
complaints filed with the Commission.
The Commission's authorities and responsibilities
are set out in Ark. Code Ann. §§ 7-6-217 and 218. Functions performed by the
Commission include: (1) drafting or reviewing and approving disclosure forms,
instructions, and calendars used by public officials, lobbyists, political
action committees, candidates for office, and ballot and legislative question
committees; (2) monitoring compliance with disclosure requirements; (3) issuing
advisory opinions concerning the ethics laws under its jurisdiction; (4)
investigating alleged violations of the ethics laws and determining whether a
violation has occurred; (5) holding monthly public meetings and conducting
public hearings; (6) issuing disciplinary action for violations of the law, or
referring its finding to a prosecuting attorney for criminal proceedings; (7)
answering questions regarding the statutes under its jurisdiction on a daily,
informal basis; (8) preparing and distributing instructional and educational
materials and conducting training sessions for candidates, elected and appointed
officials, lobbyists, political action committees, and ballot and legislative
question committees; (9) maintaining files on all ballot question and
legislative question committees registered in accordance with the Disclosure Act
for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to Voters; (10)
promulgating rules and regulations to implement and administer the statutes
under its jurisdiction; (11) responding to questions and requests for documents
under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”); (12) making information publicly
accessible in an electronic form via the internet; and (13) implementing and
maintaining a reminder notice program.
The Commission’s office is located at 910 West Second Street, Suite 100, Little
Rock, Arkansas. Its telephone numbers are (501) 324-9600 and (800) 422-7773.
The Commission’s mailing address is Post Office Box 1917, Little Rock, Arkansas
72203-1917. Its electronic mail and internet addresses are
ContactUs@ArkansasEthics.com and
www.arkansasethics.com. Persons may obtain access to public records of the
Commission by visiting its office, viewing its website, or submitting a request
for records.
The following is a list and general description of the Commission’s records:
Commission meeting records, including agenda, written minutes, and audio tapes of the meetings.
Case files, including correspondence, complaints, and records of the investigation.
Final action letters setting forth the Commission’s final action in cases before the Commission and the reasons for such action.
Public letters of sanction, including letters of caution, warning, and reprimand.
Records related to fines imposed by the Commission.
Advisory opinions issued by the Commission on its own initiative or in response to written requests setting forth inquiries into matters under its jurisdiction.
Ballot and legislative question committee records filed with the Commission, including: statements of organization, financial reports, and notices of dissolution.
Forms and instructions published by the Commission for candidates, lobbyists, political action committees, ballot and legislative question committees, and other persons subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction.
Records related to reminder notices prepared by the Commission including databases of public officials, candidates for public office, state boards and commissions, lobbyists, and political action committees.
Records of review exercises, including memoranda and corrective action letters.
Records related to training sessions conducted by the Commission’s staff including training materials and databases of newspapers in Arkansas.
Rules promulgated by the Commission concerning campaign finance, lobbyist registration and reporting, gifts, and proceedings before the Commission.
Records related to the administration of the Commission’s office, including (i) lease agreements: office space and equipment; (ii) financial records: budget information, payroll records, and invoices; (iii) employee records: personnel files, time sheets, and leave requests; and (iv) records relating to office equipment: inventories, meter readings of copiers and postage equipment, etc.
Ark. Code Ann. § 7-6-218(b)(3)(B) contains a
statutory exemption which affects FOIA requests to the Ethics Commission. Under
that exemption, the Commission is required to keep all proceedings, records, and
transcripts of any investigations or inquiries confidential unless (i) the
respondent requests disclosure of documents, (ii) a public hearing is held in
accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 7-6-218(b)(2), or (iii) judicial review of a
Commission decision is sought pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-212. Ark. Code
Ann. §7-6-218(b)(3)(C) provides that all records relevant to an investigation
and upon which the Commission has based its decision shall become open to public
inspection thirty (30) days after any final adjudication in which the Commission
makes a finding of a violation.
