Ex-official at Arkansas school settles complaint over using computer for political campaign

In a settlement of an ethics complaint, a former official of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences & the Arts has agreed that she unintentionally violated state law by using her school computer and email account to send and receive emails about her husband's campaign for state representative.

Vicki Hinz, the school's former director of institutional advancement, has been issued a public letter of caution as part of her settlement with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, commission Director Graham Sloan said in a letter to Hinz.

Hinz's husband, Republican Ernie Hinz of Hot Springs, lost to state Rep. Laurie Rushing, R-Hot Springs, in the May 22 primary. In the Nov. 6 general election, Rushing faces a challenge from Bismarck Democrat Alan Hughes.

Ernie Hinz said Monday his wife is now retired, and he and his wife have no comment about the settlement.

Rushing, who filed the complaint, said Monday in a text message, "I am satisfied that the Ethics Commission did a complete investigation of this matter and came up with the appropriate decision."

Sloan said in his letter to Vicki Hinz that the commission decided June 22 in a 4-0 vote, with commissioner Lori Klein not present, that probable cause exists for finding that Hinz unintentionally violated Arkansas Code Annotated 7-1-103 (a) (2) (A) and (a) (3) (A) by using her school computer and email account to send and receive emails concerning her husband's campaign in House District 26.

"The investigation showed that you sent some emails from your ASMSA computer and email account during the work day to your friends to let them know that your husband, Ernie Hinz, has decided to run for office, and asked for their support, including language that a contribution would be appreciated and providing where to send any contributions," Sloan said in his letter dated June 27.

"Furthermore, you reported your activity to your supervisor upon realizing that it might have been prohibited. The evidence did not indicate any intent to violate the law," Sloan wrote.

In an email dated Feb. 6 to several people, Vicki Hinz wrote, "Well ... my plan was to retire on June 30, 2018, and that IS still the plan; however, my husband decided to throw his hat in the ring for the District 26 House of Representatives Republican seat so a relaxed retirement doesn't sound like it's in the cards. ...

"We hope we can count on you for your support as this is certainly new territory for the both of us ...," Vicki Hinz wrote. "Wish us luck and if you're so inclined, a contribution would be much appreciated! Thank you Vicki," she wrote, and provided an address to send contributions.

The school, in Hot Springs, is part of the University of Arkansas System. The UA System's board policy does not allow employees to use university resources in political activity or to solicit campaign contributions on work time, according to Corey Alderdice, the school's director.

"ASMSA has addressed the issue, but because it is a personnel matter, we cannot comment further," he wrote in an email to this newspaper.

Metro on 07/11/2018

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