State Sen. John Cooper, R-Jonesboro, has the largest campaign war chest among unopposed legislative candidates, according to the latest campaign-finance reports.
Cooper reported his campaign had $55,436.77 in the bank as of June 30, after he raised $75,355 in contributions and spent $21,586.
He said Friday that he raised most of his campaign funds before the Nov. 2-9 filing period.
"I expected to have [an opponent], absolutely. They were trying to recruit one for me," he said, referring to his critics.
A pay raise granted to lawmakers last year boosted the maximum amount of money that legislative candidates may carry over from their current campaigns. The law allows candidates for state office to carry over an amount equal to their annual salaries. They may use the leftover funds for office-related expenses or future campaigns, or both, said Graham Sloan, director of the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
"I think everybody knows they can keep the increased amount this time," Sloan said last week.
In March 2015, the Citizens Salary commission approved raises that sent lawmakers' pay from $15,869 to $39,400 a year and increased pay for the speaker of the House and Senate president pro tempore from $17,771 to $45,000 a year.
Cooper said he probably will retain the maximum allowed amount of carry-over funds and use them for his next Senate campaign. First, he'll dispose of excess campaign funds in accordance with state law.
"That had no bearing on whether I solicited [campaign] funds. I was getting prepared for the campaign," he said.
House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, has the second-largest campaign war chest among unopposed legislative candidates, with $53,170.78 as of May 31. He reported raising $59,540.43 and spending $6,369.65 in his latest report available through the secretary of state's website.
Like Cooper, Gillam said he raised most of his funds before the filing period.
"There was a little talk that I was going to have an opponent so money came toward the campaign," the speaker said.
He said he hasn't thought about how much in campaign funds he would carry over after the election.
"I just have a lot of in-district stuff going on with sponsorships in this campaign," he said. "I am taking it one day at a time. I don't have any overarching plan at this moment."
Rep. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, has the third-largest war chest among unopposed legislative candidates, with $48,159.77 through June 30. He reported raising $61,584.10 and spending $13,424.33.
In the 2014 election, Tucker defeated Little Rock Republican Stacy Hurst, even though Hurst raised and spent more than $318,000 in a race in which Tucker raised more than $228,000 and spent more than $214,000.
Tucker said he raised most of this year's funds before the filing period.
"I was just getting prepared either way," Tucker said, referring to whether he had an opponent.
"I haven't asked anybody for money since the [filing] period was over," he said.
Tucker said he plans to carry over most of that money, "so I can use it for campaign purposes moving forward, assuming I keep running for office," Tucker said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, has the fourth-largest war chest among unopposed candidates with $43,049.99 as of June 30. He reported raising $60,413.52 and spending $17,363.53.
He said he raised most of the money before the filing period.
"I have actually sent money back if they tried to send it in [since then]," he said.
Dismang said he expects to carry over the money after the election for his four-year term.
"I think this is a little bit different for a senator than a House member. We are up [for election] every four years instead of every two years," he said. He said he would use the carry-over for such things as educational trips to national organizations like the National Conference of State Legislatures so the state doesn't have to pay for the trips.
SundayMonday on 07/24/2016