Secretary of State Mark Martin disclosed this week that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission paid $1,792.56 for his airfare, lodging, meals and other expenses for his trip to Washington, D.C., last August for the commission's election-data conference.
The Republican from Prairie Grove disclosed these payments in amendments filed Tuesday and Wednesday to his 2015 Statement of Financial Interest -- which he initially filed on Jan. 13 with his office -- in response to questions from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about who paid these expenses.
In late April, Martin spokesman Chris Powell said the state paid $71 for Martin's trip to Washington from Aug. 11-13. When asked who paid the other expenses, Powell said at that time, "I'm told that the secretary paid for his trip personally and then was reimbursed by EAC." Powell said Martin would check on that amount and file an amendment to disclose the payment.
Asked why the amendments weren't filed earlier, Powell said this week, "We had to get the relevant information from the EAC in Washington."
According to the website of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the federal agency provides assistance to election officials "by issuing guidance, advisories and best practices to help officials comply with the Help America Vote Act and make other election administration improvements and enhancements."
The Arkansas secretary of state's office is responsible for making sure that elections comply with federal law. The state office also maintains election records and assists county officials with conducting federal, state and district elections, according to its website.
Under state law, state officials are required to disclose each nongovernment source of expense payments that exceed $150 for food, lodging or travel that bear a relationship to their offices.
After what Powell described as "an oversight," Martin disclosed in April that four foreign and state entities paid more than $20,800 for food, lodging and travel expenses for his trips to China, Ghana, Taiwan and New Orleans last year.
Martin filed an amendment to his 2015 Statement of Financial Interest on April 15 to disclose these payments and filed another amendment on April 21 to correct the dates for a trip. The amendments were filed after the Democrat-Gazette initially asked in February who paid for part of Martin's expenses on his trips to Ghana and Taiwan.
In amendments filed in April to his financial disclosure statement for 2015, Martin reported that:
• The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of Beijing paid $9,000 for airfare, hotel, food and local transportation for his trip from May 30-June 7 to China. For this trip Martin was part of a delegation with the National Association of Secretaries of State, Powell said.
• The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taipei City, Taiwan, paid $6,000 for airfare, hotel, food and local transportation for Martin's trip to Taiwan from April 18-26. For this trip Martin was part of a delegation with the National Association of Secretaries of State, Powell said. In addition, the state paid $45 of Martin's expenses for "incidentals," according to records provided by Powell.
• The Volta Regional Coordinating Council of Accra, Ghana, paid $3,775 for airfare, hotel, meals and local transportation for Martin's trip to Ghana from March 14-23. The trip to Ghana was taken in conjunction with Sister Cities International and was paid for by the Ghanaian government, through the council, Powell said. In addition, the state paid $603 of Martin's expenses for "incidentals," according to information provided by Powell.
• The Information Network of Arkansas of Little Rock paid $2,066.46 for air transportation, hotel and award reception for Martin's trip to New Orleans from Sept. 25-26. Martin traveled to New Orleans as chairman of the Information Network of Arkansas' board to accept awards on behalf of the state, Powell said. The awards included a Best of the Web award for Arkansas.gov, which was rated the best state portal, Powell said. In addition, the state paid $84.40 for Martin's ground transportation and incidental expenses on this trip, according to information provided by Powell.
Martin is serving his second four-year term as secretary of state and is barred from seeking re-election under the state's term-limits amendment. He has said he doesn't plan to run for an elected office in 2018.
Metro on 06/09/2016