While crisscrossing the state to attend more than a dozen mostly Republican events, Court of Appeals Judge Kenneth Hixson raised more than his two opponents in the Arkansas Supreme Court race during March.
It was the first month of fundraising for Hixson, who entered the race in late February. He raised $21,418, according to reports due this week, besting the $15,765 raised by attorney David Sterling and the $5,150 raised by the incumbent justice, Courtney Goodson.
The March reports also began to unveil the kinds of groups and donors each candidate is courting in the race, which is officially nonpartisan.
While Arkansas judicial rules governing campaigning prohibit judicial candidates from publicly identifying themselves as members of a political party, or speaking on behalf of a political organization, the rules also expressly allow candidates to purchase tickets to attend political events.
Hixson and Sterling reported buying tickets to attend fundraisers held by Republican Party county committees, but not to similar dinners hosted by Democrats.
Donors to both candidates included well-known names in the Arkansas business community. John Tyson, the chairman of the board for Tyson Foods, gave Hixson $2,700. Warren Stephens, chairman, president and CEO of Stephens Inc., gave the same amount to Sterling.
Hixson, an appellate judge from Fayetteville, attended several local chambers of commerce banquets last month and received a donation from Randy Zook, president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, Sterling, a former Republican candidate for attorney general, purchased a booth at the Saline County Gun and Knife Show. Sterling of Little Rock also attended a wild-game supper hosted by John 3:16 Ministries in Little Rock.
Goodson, who has served on the high court since 2011, did not report any expenditures in March, though in recent weeks she has posted pictures of herself on Twitter attending Republican and Democratic events. She lives in Fayetteville.
Of her five donations in March, the biggest was $2,700 from Monticello attorney C.C. "Cliff" Gibson III, who serves on the University of Arkansas System board of trustees with Goodson's husband, John Goodson.
While Hixson raised more money in March, Sterling ended the month with the most in the bank, $38,471. Hixson had $18,964 available to end the month, and Goodson had $10,676 available.
None of the candidates reported spending any money on TV or radio ads, or polls. Two people told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette this month that they had received an automated phone call that at first appeared to be a poll in the Supreme Court race, before going on to attack Goodson and Hixson. Sterling said he was not involved in the call.
Election day for nonpartisan judicial races is May 22, the same day as the partisan primaries. If needed, a runoff will be held during the Nov. 6 general election.
COURT OF APPEALS RACE
Court of Appeals Judge Bart Virden of Morrilton raised $7,650 for his re-election campaign last month, while his challenger, Mountain Home attorney Johnnie Copeland, raised $11,610 during the same period. The two are running in the appellate court's 2nd District, which includes 18 counties in north-central Arkansas.
In addition to the money he raised, Virden lent his campaign $20,000 in March and had $16,096 available after purchasing T-shirts, signs, print material and outdoor ads. Copeland did not lend her campaign any money last month and has $10,509 available after attending a Republican dinner, two gun shows and a local chamber event, and purchasing campaign materials.
Metro on 04/18/2018