3 issue updates on campaign debts

— Three former candidates for statewide offices who lost races last year have each reported campaign debts of $66,000 or more.

The quarterly reports were required to be filed this month with the secretary of state’s office by candidates who raise more than $500 in total to help retire their campaign debts since their last reports, said Graham Sloan, director of the state Ethics Commission.

Unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Keet from Little Rock reported reducing his debt from $171,423 to $170,423 in the period from Nov. 3-Dec. 31.

He has reported that his debts consisted of a $100,000 loan that he secured from Delta Trust & Bank of Little Rock and $71,423 that he personally lent to his campaign.

Unsuccessful land commissioner candidate Monty Davenport, a Democrat from Yellville, reported reducing his debt from $73,133 to $66,083 in the past quarter. He has reported that his debt consisted of a $50,000 loan that he made to his campaign and $23,133 owed to a campaign consulting firm, The Markham Group of Little Rock.

Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, a Democrat from North Little Rock who lost a bid for the U.S. Senate last year, reported increasing the amount of campaign debt that he owes himself from his 2006 campaign for lieutenant governor from $85,986 to $91,543. That resulted from $5,557 in expenses last quarter, including office rent, an American Express finance charge, and database management and telephone costs, according to a report.

Arkansas, Pages 21 on 01/23/2011

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