Council Candidates Spend In Races

— Candidates for city councils in Bentonville and Rogers spent upwards of $38,000 in the 2012 general election, or about as much as one candidate did in the Fayetteville mayoral race.

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan spent $38,342 in his re-election campaign.

Neither Bentonville or Rogers had a mayoral election in 2012, but both saw heated City Council races. The contest for the Ward 4, Position 1 seat on the Rogers City Council drew the largest fundraisers.

At A Glance

Finance Totals

Campaign finance totals in Bentonville and Rogers city council races.

Candidate Contributions/Loans Expenses

Bentonville Ward 1, Position 1

Mary Baggett - $1,260

Stephanie Orman $2,200 $2,559

Bentonville Ward 1, Position 2

Chris Sooter $1,410 $756

Bentonville Ward 3, Position 1

Ed Austin - $528

Bentonville Ward 3, Position 2

Bill Burckart $580 $305

James Smith $4,521 $4,182

Bentonville Ward 4, Position 1

Burton Head $580 $507

Octavio Sanchez $3,188 $3,188

Rogers Ward 3, Position 2

Andrew Hatfield $6,927 $3,092

Mauricio Herrera $4,335 $3,091

Rogers Ward 4, Position 1

Carlos Chicas $15,711 $15,516

Bob Goodwin $6,738 $6,381

Carrie Perrien Smith $5,726 $3,905

Source: Staff Report

Candidate Carlos Chicas raised $15,711 for the Nov. 6 general election and the following runoff with incumbent Bob Goodwin, according to finance reports filed with the Benton County Clerk’s Office. Chicas accumulated money from dozens of contributors, some from as far away as Bakersfield, Calif.

Large donors include Massage Envy of Rogers, Super Mercado in Rogers and Maria’s Mexican Restaurant in Bentonville.

Chicas rented billboard space, bought newspaper ads and ran radio ads in both English and Spanish. He said he was surprised campaign expenses for a City Council seat ran so high.

Goodwin filed his report Dec. 31, the deadline for candidates to report their contributions and expenses. Candidates are only required to file if they raise or spend more than $500 in a race. Goodwin raised $1,580 and spent $6,381.

“I used loans to cover the rest of it,” Goodwin said. The loans totaled $5,158.

Contributions came from Coldwell Banker in Rogers and Tom Hopper and David Thresher of Rogers. Goodwin purchased newspaper and radio ads and paid $5,000 to a campaign consultant.

Candidate Rachel Cox filed a report stating she did not spend or raise any money.

Candidate Carrie Perrien Smith loaned her campaign $5,000, raised $726 and spent $3,905 vying for the seat, according to her report.

Goodwin and Chicas made it into the runoff, with Goodwin defeating Chicas by getting 60 percent of the vote.

Andrew Hatfield and Mauricio Herrera raised a combined $6,927 in the Rogers Ward 3, Position 2 race. Candidate Keith Jackson did not file a report. Herrera raised $3,135, loaned his campaign $1,200 and spent $3,091. Many donors to his campaign were local attorneys, including Larry Thompson, Edwin McClure, Drew Sadler and D. Kirk Joyce.

Hatfield received $2,592, much of it from attorneys as well. Donations came from Kendall Drewyor Law Firm; Keith, Miller, Butler, Schneider and Pawlik; the Armstrong Law Firm; James C. Harris and Tony Noblin.

Herrera and Hatfield faced off in a runoff election Nov. 26 with Hatfield winning with 52 percent of the vote.

“I didn’t know what to expect until I started pricing,” Hatfield said. “But I appreciate the people that helped out. It’s never any fun asking people for money.”

He said he was happy with the campaign and is ready to take his seat on the council.

“As an attorney, I’m used to helping people with their problems and issues,” he said. “I’m used to them calling and telling me their troubles.”

Ten candidates filed reports for four contested Bentonville City Council seats. The largest fundraiser was James Smith, who faced incumbent Bill Burckart for the Ward 3, Position 2 seat. Smith raised $3,885 and loaned the campaign $636. He spent $4,182 in the race.

Burckart raised $580 in one donation from the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors. Burckart said he donated the money to Havenwood Women’s Shelter in Bentonville. He spent $305 on signs, according to the finance report. Burckart defeated Smith with 56 percent of the vote.

Ward 1, Position 1 Alderwoman Mary Baggett defeated challenger Stephanie Orman with 53 percent of the vote. Baggett spent $1,260 in the self-funded race.

Orman raised $2,200 and spent $2,559, according to her finance report. Contributors to her campaign included Reliable Imports and RV in Springfield, Mo., the Republican Women of Bentonville and attorney Susan Hoeller of Bentonville.

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