A political motion committee of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee contributed $35,000 to an impartial expenditure committee that has run detrimental advertisements in opposition to Mayor Frank Scott Jr. as he seeks a second time period, in response to a marketing campaign finance report.
The report filed Oct. 11 on behalf of the “Residents For A Higher Little Rock” committee coated contributions and expenditures for the interval of October 20, 2021 via Oct. 4, 2022.
The committee reported receiving $56,700 and spending roughly $39,731.
Huckabee’s committee, generally known as Huck PAC, was the primary supply of the cash behind “Residents For A Higher Little Rock” throughout the reporting interval.
Along with the $35,000 from Huck PAC, different contributors included poultry-industry govt Ronald Cameron, who gave $10,000; D.J.’s Auto Restore of North Little Rock, which contributed $2,500; and Dealer Options of Little Rock, which contributed $2,000.
[PAC FILING: Read the campaign finance report » arkansasonline.com/1016lrpac/]
“Residents For A Higher Little Rock” reported spending roughly $33,300 on tv promoting, $3,315 on different promoting and $3,134 on marketing consultant charges throughout the reporting interval.
Scott is searching for a second time period and faces three opponents: Greg Henderson, Steve Landers Sr. and Glen Schwarz.
Early voting begins Oct. 24 within the lead-up to the preliminary spherical of the mayoral contest on Nov. 8. If no candidate will get no less than 40% of the vote, a runoff election between the highest two can be held Dec. 6.
Huck PAC has contributed $2,900 to Landers as one in every of its endorsed candidates, in response to the political motion committee’s web site.
Scott blasted the contributions from Huck PAC after they have been first reported by Max Brantley of the Arkansas Instances. The primary-term mayor requested supporters to contribute to his marketing campaign as a way to battle again.
In a collection of tweets on Oct. 11, Scott wrote, “Mike Huckabee is spending tens of 1000’s to affect the Little Rock mayor’s race with darkish cash, and it is clear right-wing particular pursuits are taking discover of the nice, sturdy, progressive work we have achieved right here in Little Rock.”
He added, “Not solely do they need to flip again the clock on the work we have performed, however they need to take over our metropolis and our state.”
Responding to Scott the subsequent day, Huckabee argued that his committee’s spending occurred out within the open.
“Nothing ‘darkish’ concerning the cash,” Huckabee wrote on Twitter. “Was proper there in public stories. Darkish cash is beneath the desk corrupt shuffling of $$ to your former workers & political buddies that obtained uncovered & prompted town to cancel money contracts to counterpoint your folks.”
The previous governor additionally criticized Scott’s use of a safety element — one in every of Landers’ favored themes on the marketing campaign path.
Huckabee wrote that he didn’t need to “‘take over’ something. I would similar to LR to be a metropolis the place it is protected for EVERYONE & not only a mayor who enjoys a big troop of armed guards. Most in LR want these cops defending them too. Fairly easy actually. Nothing ‘darkish’ about it.”
Huckabee’s daughter Sarah Huckabee Sanders is at the moment the Republican nominee for governor of Arkansas.
[PAC FILING: Read the campaign finance report » arkansasonline.com/1016lrpac/]
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