FAYETTEVILLE -- One of Fayetteville's two City Council candidates filed a pre-election finance report by deadline Tuesday.
Sarah Bunch, a real estate agent, and Tracy Hoskins, a developer and business owner, are in a runoff for the city's Ward 3 seat, which covers northeast Fayetteville.
Any municipal candidate who spent or received more than $500 from Nov. 9 to Nov. 19 had to file a finance report at the Washington County courthouse by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Hoskins filed a report Tuesday, but Bunch did not file until Wednesday afternoon.
Hoskins reported receiving $1,650 in contributions since Nov. 9. He spent $2,531 and had a remaining balance of $6,604.
Candidates must list any contributions more than $50. Hoskins had six, the highest being a $500 contribution. He spent $1,139 on social media advertising and $1,108 on printing for mailers, push cards and stickers, according to his report. The rest of Hoskins' spending went toward interest on bank service charges and meals.
Bunch reported receiving $1,650 and spending $2,863, with a remaining balance of $1,582.
Bunch had seven contributions of more than $50, the highest single donation being a $500 contribution. Ward 3 Alderman Martin Schoppmeyer Jr. contributed $250 to Bunch's runoff campaign. Bunch spent $1,381 on mailer postage, $730 on printing, $500 to the Henry Law Firm and $250 on Facebook advertising.
Hoskins questioned why his opponent didn't file her report on time.
"Those running for public office should know the rules better than anyone," he said.
Bunch said she was unaware of the deadline.
Only Kathryn Birkhead filed a pre-election report out of the four candidates in the Springdale City Council runoffs for Ward 1 and Ward 3. Birkhead reported $50 in contributions.
Neither West Fork mayoral candidate filed a report.
Drew Blankenship, staff attorney with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, said the commission generally will only investigate a possible violation if someone files a complaint. The commission can issue fines or send a letter of reprimand if it finds a violation has occurred, he said.
Metro on 11/24/2016