Arkansas Ethics Commission -- About the Commission

ABOUT THE COMMISSION

THE COMMISSIONERS




Chairman Minix Term Expires: 12/31/13	Reverend J. Barrington Minix, Sr. is Senior Pastor of Gaines Street Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Pastor Minix accepted his call to the Gospel Ministry at the age of 7 - preaching, teaching and ministering to family members, friends, and anyone who desired a closer walk with the Master. At the age of 13, he received his license into the Gospel Ministry at St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church, his home church, in Beaumont, Texas. Pastor Minix studied Religion and Psychology at American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee. He has served and preached in various capacities on local, state and national levels. He has served for 9 years as Senior Pastor at Gaines Street Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Pastor Minix’s leadership extends into the community. He served as a School Board Member for E-Stem Public Charter Schools in downtown Little Rock for 3 years. He currently serves as board member of The Alabaster Box Family Services. In addition, he is a published author. Pastor Minix is married to the former Keili Sharella Fontenot. He and his wife are the proud parents of three beautiful children: Logan Monet Minix, J. Barrington Minix, Jr., and Ashley Nicole Minix.

Commissioner Bray Term Expires: 12/31/14	Ms. Anna Sue Bray - Appointed by Speaker of the House Robbie Wills (2010) Mrs. Anna Bray is a retired teacher. She was a media specialist for 5 years and an elementary teacher for 17 years in the Benton School District. After graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1967, she taught in the Fayetteville Public Schools for 2 years. She is a volunteer with CASA in Saline County and Habitat for Humanity. She is married to Frank M. Bray, Jr. and they are members of the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock. They have 3 children, Beth Felty, Sara McClain, and Mark Bray, who are also graduates of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and 8 grandchildren.

Vice Chairman Bird Term Expires: 12/31/15	Mr. William C. Bird III – Appointed by Lt. Gov. Mark Darr William Bird has practiced with the Little Rock law firm of Dover Dixon Horne PLLC since 2005. His primary area of practice is litigation, and he serves as editor of the firm’s business defense newsletter – “The Defensive Front.” He graduated with high honors from the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law. While in law school, he served as an associate editor of the law review and was honored as Bowen Scholar. Mr. Bird’s law review casenote, which focused on public school freedom of speech, has been cited by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as well as several law reviews across the country. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and has served as Awards & Subgrants Committee Associate Judge and as a Touch 10,000 Program Ambassador for the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Bird worked as public relations professional with Stone Ward advertising agency in Little Rock and in the communications office at UALR. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Ouachita Baptist University (1998). He and his wife Julie have three children - Olivia, Wesley and Everett.

Commissioner McCormack Term Expires: 12/31/16	Mr. Robert McCormack BIOGRAPHY COMING SOON
Commissioner Trusty Term Expires: 12/31/17	Ms. Sharon K. Trusty Ms. Trusty is the President of Trusty & Associates, LLC, in Russellville. She served nearly a decade in the Arkansas State Senate and was on the Joint Budget Committee and was a member of Legislative Council. Prior to her Senate career, she was a Commissioner with the Arkansas Department of Economic Development and was a member of the Arkansas State Workforce Education Board. She is an active member of her community where she recently completed 30 years of service on the Board of St. Mary's Regional Medical Center and was Chairman at the time of her retirement from the Board. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of Simmons Bank and is a member of the Russellville Chamber of Commerce. She attended Arkansas Tech University and is a published author. She is a member of Victory Baptist Church in Russellville. She and her husband, Fritz Kronberger, have 5 daughters and 10 grandchildren.


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MISSION STATEMENT

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.

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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.

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