Mayor’s campaign NLR’s costliest ever

Sunday, January 6, 2013

— North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith’s campaign piled up $347,474 in expenditures during the mayoral election, according to a contribution and expenditure report filed with the Pulaski County clerk Dec. 31.

Smith’s final financial report for his campaign also notes a debt of $38,884 remaining, despite having raised $351,340 in his bid to be elected mayor.

He won office in a Nov. 27 runoff election over state Rep. Tracy Steele. Smith took office Tuesday.

The amounts are the largest ever for any campaign for elected office in the city.

Smith had a campaign fundraiser scheduled for Saturday evening to help retire his debt. The fundraiser requested $500 per couple for a VIP reception.

Steele filed his latest campaign report Nov. 20, before the Nov. 27 runoff, according to the clerk’s office. Steele’s campaign reported $152,385 in total contributions and $137,140 in expenditures for a balance of $19,645.

Smith had raised $261 ,805 in contributions and had $171,557 in expenditures a week before the Nov. 6 general election, according to his contribution and expenditure report filed Oct. 30. Steele’s report at that time showed $91,121 in contributions and expenditures of $87,061.

Mark Clinton, who finished third in the general election, raised $6,960 and spent $6,642 according to his report filed just before the general election.

John Parker, the field’s fourth candidate, didn’t report any contributions or expenditures, according to the clerk’s office.

Arkansas, Pages 17 on 01/06/2013