What stands out about the primary election’s numbers?

Elections

By Steve Brawner, © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Let’s see what stands out about the numbers in last Tuesday’s primary elections, starting with the state’s only contested congressional race. 

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack defeated a not-very-well-funded challenger, state Sen. Clint Penzo, 54%-46%, in northwest Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District.

It was the kind of race Republican congressmen fear – a challenge from within their own party from the right. Democrats in Democratic states fear a challenge from the left. 

Womack has been in office for a while, and he’s in a leadership position. He’s more of a traditional Republican rather than a MAGA (Make America Great Again) one allied with former President Trump. Where he really stepped out was when he publicly opposed the speakership candidacy of Rep. Jim Jordan, a Trump ally. Continue reading What stands out about the primary election’s numbers? →

Dennis Milligan has $400 million. Some might be yours.

State government

By Steve Brawner, © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

It’s not every day that a man tells you he has $400 million to get rid of, and he needs your help to do it. That happened to me at the State Capitol Feb. 21.

The man was Dennis Milligan, the Arkansas state auditor. The $400 million is the total value of all the unclaimed properties the state is trying to return to its rightful owners through “The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt.” 

One in four Arkansans have property in the state’s possession. The auditor’s office has more than a million properties to dispense. The properties come from a variety of sources – an inheritance, a deserted bank account, a safety deposit box that somebody forgot about, etc. If a final paycheck never made it to somebody, banks are obligated to turn the money over to the auditor’s office. 

One woman got $1.4 million

“I gave a lady $1.4 million in Hot Springs the other day that her dad had left her through stocks that she didn’t even know about,” he said. “And that’s not the norm, but there’s plenty of $80, $150, $200. And again, it comes from old utility deposits. I’ve got Rolex watches. I’ve got war medals in our vault that again were taken out of safety deposit boxes and ultimately ended up in my hands.” Continue reading Dennis Milligan has $400 million. Some might be yours. →

A better way to elect Supreme Court justices?

Elections

By Steve Brawner. © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Arkansans this year are voting to fill two positions on the Arkansas Supreme Court, including the chief justice. And let’s be honest: Most voters are deciding based on limited information or by outright guessing. 

Is there a better way? Maybe. Perhaps voters should be more like jurors.

Judicial elections don’t make it easy for voters to make informed choices. Candidates don’t run with party labels. They are compelled by judicial ethics to avoid saying how they might rule in cases so as not to prejudice themselves. Instead, they are limited to using descriptive words like “conservative,” touting their backgrounds, and offering ideas about improving the justice system. It’s basically a billboard campaign. 

Moreover, this year’s candidates, as is usually the case, have not raised enough money to wage major campaigns. What money they do raise may come from lawyers and others who could have cases come before the court. Sometimes outside groups run their own independent campaigns to smear one of the candidates. Continue reading A better way to elect Supreme Court justices? →

Supreme Court race: Moving laterally versus moving up

Elections

By Steve Brawner. © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

The race for Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 2 pits a current justice seeking to make a lateral move against a Texarkana circuit judge seeking to move up.

Supreme Court Justice Courtney Hudson faces Judge Carlton Jones in the March 5 primary. The statewide, nonpartisan race will be on every voter’s ballot whether they vote in the Republican, Democratic or nonpartisan primary.

The winner will occupy the seat previously held by the late Justice Robin Wynne and now held by Justice Cody Hiland. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Hiland to take Wynne’s place upon his death. Continue reading Supreme Court race: Moving laterally versus moving up →