The Arkansas Ethics Commission was established in 1991 as a result of the voters' approval of the Initiated Act I of 1990. It serves as the compliance and enforcement agency under the State's standards of conduct and disclosure laws pertaining to candidates for public office, state and local officials, lobbyists and committees, and individuals involved with initiatives and other matters referred to the voters. The Commission has jurisdiction over the following sections of the Arkansas Code: Elections; Campaign Financing; Disclosure for Matters Referred to Voters; Constitutional Officers and their Spouses; The Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials; and State Boards, Commissions, and Entities Receiving State Funds. The Commission provides information on Rules and Regulations and copies of various forms and instructions.
Arkansas Ethics Commission
P.O. Box 1917
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1917
Street Address: 910 West Second Street, Suite 100
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Phone: (501) 324-9600 / (800) 422-7773
Largest City:
Little Rock (183,133 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)
Largest County:
Pulaski (364,567 - est. pop. 2003, U.S. Census Bureau)
Other links of interest:
Common Cause Arkansas is a non-profit, non-partisan citizens' lobby organization that works to make government more accountable to the people.
Common Cause Arkansas
PO Box 164467
Little Rock, AR 72216
Street Address:
1308 W. Second St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 374-5113
Fax: (501) 375-6025
The Arkansas Municipal League is a voluntary group of Arkansas cities and towns that provides its members with legislative advocacy, benefits programs, training opportunities and publications.
Arkansas Municipal League
P.O. Box 38
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72115
Phone: (501) 374-3484
Fax: (501) 374-0541
Mayor Voting
I am an alderman in a small first class city in Arkansas and we just elected a new mayor who wants to be considered full-time and receive a salary of $44,500.00 annually. Our previous mayor was considered part-time and paid an annual salary of $6,500.00. Our council (six-members) has been divided on this issue, everyone agrees it is fine if the mayor wishes to be full-time, but three members feel that the $44,500.00 is excessive and not supported by any documentation other than this is what the mayor has requested. We have proposed a salary of $25,000.00, more in line for a city with a population of 3,910.
During a special meeting of our council, that was called to discuss our 2007 budget, the mayor stated that she felt that the budget could not be discussed until the issue of her salary was settled. She then ask for a motion to approve her $44,500.00 salary and place it in the budget, which she received and a second. Upon discussion three aldermen objected to this, note that this was a special meeting called to discuss the budget, the mayor ignored the objections and called rolled. It ended in a 3-3 tie vote amoung the councilmembers, the mayor cast her vote yes to break the tie. What do you think about that?
Not only is this unethical, I don't believe it is legal, not during a special meeting?The three councilmembers who voted against this have requested an AG opinion which has yet to arrive, meanwhile we are accused of delaying progress and holding up the city business because the budget can't be passed which includes the salary that the mayor voted in for herself. The council has agreed not to vote on the budget until we receive the AG opinion. I feel that because of her actions during the special meeting that she should abstain from voting on the budget because it contains her salary and her salary was placed there unethically and I believe illegally.