Support for Arkansas Week provided by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, The Arkansas Times and KUARFM 89.

Hello, I'm Christina Munoz.

For Arkansas week, Arkansas PBS will be hosting 9 debates beginning October 17th through the 21st.

And to kick off debate week, we feature the candidates vying for the offices of state treasurer, state auditor and Commissioner of State Lands.

We begin with the candidates for the office of Arkansas Treasurer, state representative Mark Lowry, the Republican candidate.

And Miss Pam Whitaker, the Democratic candidate.

This office serves as the state's lead banker and is responsible for an investment portfolio of about $4.5 billion.

So to get started, I first want to say thank you so much for taking the time to be here.

Well, thank you.

It's always good to be at Arkansas PBS and good to see you.

Wonderful.

Thank you so much.

It's great to see you.

I just love coming up to Conway and visiting you here at UCA.

Well, thank you so much for being here.

So we, as we just said, $4.5 billion.

We are talking about a lot of money.

So to begin with, as you all know, there is a lot of uncertainty with our economy right now.

There's just a lot going on out there and a lot of concerns.

So the first question I want to present to Representative Lowry is what would be your plan to kind of help protect the state's money?

Well, the key, the key elements of investment for the state, we definitely want to return on investment, but we have to be safe and we have to be liquid.

And so that's the main concern and actually.

When you look at some of the federal money that has come in, we're actually investing currently $9 billion and some of that has to be segregated because it is the federal COVID money.

So, you know, investing in Arkansas, I think is going to be a really critical part of mine.

Ministration, absolutely.

The same question over to you, Miss Whitaker.

How would you protect the states money?

Great.

That is #1.

Concern, of course, is to protect and grow our investments here in Arkansas.

Safety is of great concern.

I worked at Lockheed Martin where I received a security clearance and also at the Department of Treasury at the IRS where I received a security clearance.

And you have to have a strong financial background to be able to do that.

And I'm afraid we have someone else in our area in the arena here today that has some trust issues.

And so when we talk about trustworthy, I'm the candidate to choose, OK, I'm going to move on to a little bit further what you just talked about a second ago and talked about investing.

Those dollars.

So talk a little bit more about how you would go about investing those dollars to really mitigate any of those risks.

Regarding our funds, well, one of the key things is we do not need to use the the money of the people of Arkansas in pushing political agendas, which is something that is happening with the SG investment strategy of not investing in companies that do work with fossil fuels.

And it's even expanded to say don't invest money in nations that are friendly.

To us like the State of Israel, I absolutely oppose ESG investment strategy, but my opponent has been talking about using the money of the of the state to further environmental concerns and I think that that is violating a fiduciary responsibility.

And Miss Whittaker, same question over to you, how would you invest the money to help mitigate that risk?

Well, I think keeping a fair and balanced investment is what counts and we've been on a good solid trend.

So I don't expect to be changing that.

A lot.

But I do think it's important to invest in our natural resources, our people, our people resources here in the state through the educational arm and the Treasury, as well as keeping straight and on target and growing our funds and protecting it in a conservative manner.

Even though I may be running as a Democrat, I am a financial conservative, so very good.

And I'm going to start with you, Miss Whitaker, on this question.

So the treasurer, as we may know, is responsible for managing the Arkansas 529 Education Savings Plan.

Are there any changes that you would like to see to this program and kind of help us understand the program as well?

Oh Gee, the 5:29, so educating, putting, investing in our college funds, great place to talk about it here at the UCLA campus.

I've been talking to my constituents about it.

Come down and visit me at the Treasury where you can learn more about the 529.

There's also an educational arm that we can extend out to through the colleges, through the libraries, through the extension offices.

I have a cyber security background.

We can talk about that.

That's very important in banking right now.

I have a business operation since I own my own security business, so we can talk.

About that and also as well as financial education.

So those are opportunities to extend and enhance our state, absolutely.

And same question over to you with regard to the Arkansas 529 Education Savings Plan, any changes that you would make to it?

Well, I, I followed that program very closely.

My 5 terms on the Education committee.

I've worked both in K12 policy and in higher education policy.

But the thing that I really like about the 529 program is that it also is.

Expanded to give full school choice to parents.

It's not just for college financing of education, but they can actually use it if they make a decision later on, say middle school, high school.

If they want their child to go to private school, they can use those investment dollars to pay for that.

I didn't even go one step further.

I've been the legislative sponsor of every piece of legislation related to home schooling.

So if home school parents want to be able to use some of the educational 529 incentives.

They can do so.

So let's talk about the promotion of the program.

Miss Whitaker, do you think there's anything else that could be done to get more Arkansas parents to participate in this program?

Well, I think Mr.

I think Mr Lowery has made a good point.

People make their own choices about education.

In my family, I have people that have done home schooling as well as public and private.

So, you know, those are personal choices.

I think as far as our investments, we need to make sure where that money is invested.

And it can grow.

So I think just opening up that opportunity, making it, you know, getting it out there more publicly to the public, I don't think people are aware of it.

So I think that that that would be very important for us to do absolutely with regard to promotion, Representative Lowry, anything that you would change or do well, the current office that Dennis Milligan as Treasurer has done an excellent job with the educational 529 program in his eight years in that office.

The deposits or the investment has doubled, so that there's quite an awareness out there, but there always can be more.

And I think that coupled with the financial literacy angle of the Treasurer's office of teaching people how to be able to not not just K12, but look, working with adults so that they understand the components of good financial literacy, I think that that's a good furtherance of my concept of fiscal conservatism.

And also talking about what we can do to keep more money in the pockets of our Kansans rather than running up huge surpluses.

That's something that I'm going to be very involved with.

Everybody's worried about how much is in their own pocket.

So before we wrap up today, I want to give each one of you an opportunity to share with our viewers.

Maybe they don't know who they're going to vote for yet for the State office of Treasurer to give your own plug of why you are best for the job.

And Miss Whitaker, I want to start with you.

OK.

Thank you very much.

My background includes 11 years at the Department of Treasury.

Like the IRS where I served as a project manager, contract manager, audit controls and that has extended as I continue in my career path across many sectors, including banking sectors.

So this is not new to me and I've had multimillion dollar projects under my belt and people have asked for me time and again because they know I'm able to concentrate on the issues and the processes at hand that really make a difference.

I'm afraid we have some other people running for this office that really don't have.

That strong background as far as safety and security integrity, and I'm here, I'm just here and we're making you have a choice.

So I've even got people in the legislation within his own party that are voting for me.

So I'm just, you know, putting it out there.

I was encouraged to run for office.

I'm not a career politician, so I'm stepping up and it's a duty for me.

So thank you for this time letting me.

Come and share that story with you.

Well, thank you.

And representative Larry over to you.

Thank you.

Well, it's been an honor during the primary to travel throughout the state of Arkansas and in the May primary.

I won 7575% of the vote in that primary.

So Republicans are supporting me.

Those who want a good fiscal conservative in that office are supporting me.

And and the reason that they're confident of that and they're confident of my integrity is that I've been chairman of the house insurance and.

Commerce Committee for the last four years.

Previous to my time in the legislature, I was Executive director of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

So I have worked worked with the banking and financial investment.

Sectors and I believe that I would be able to continue that.

There are plenty of great guardrails in place at the Treasury and I think people can trust me to take my conservatism to that office and to support them fully.

Well, thank you both so much for being here today and stay tuned for the candidates for state auditor coming up.

Hello again, and now to the candidates for state auditor the Democratic candidate, Miss Diamond, Arnold Johnson, and the Republican candidate, Treasurer Dennis Milligan.

The Libertarian candidate, Simeon Snow, declined to participate.

The auditor is the general accountant for the state and serves as the payroll officer for the executive, legislative and judicial.

Branches.

And before we begin, I just want to say thank you to you both for joining us here today.

Thank you.

Thank you for having me.

Absolutely.

It's good for you guys to be here.

So thank you so much.

I just want to start off, a lot of people don't know a lot about this office to begin with, so we want to know more about you and your backgrounds.

And Miss Johnson, I'm going to start with you kind of fill us in on what you think qualifies you for this role.

Awesome.

Well, as you stated, my name is Diamond Arnold Johnson and I am a native of Arkansas.

Um, I have five children.

And the reason that what qualifies me for this particular position is I have an expertise in accounting.

I have an expertise in making sure that corruption does not exist in the different entities amongst government and.

I believe that I'm the best candidate because that's exactly what we need within the position.

It's someone that is accountable, transparent and honest.

And I am a QuickBooks Pro certified advisor.

I've had my own business since 2011 and I have managed nonprofits and major corporations with $1,000,000 and more.

So.

OK, very good.

Well, thank you so much for sharing and treasurer million over to you.

Same question.

What qualifies you for the position of state auditor?

Well, one word to sum it up, Christina, would be experience.

I started a company from scratch in 1985.

When I sold it two years ago, we were in 17 states.

I've been an elected official from the county of which I served four years in Sling County as the circuit clerk where we brought innovation.

New technologies.

And when I left, I was nominated for a national award in jury innovation.

I've served the last 7 1/2 years now as our Arkansas treasurer state being elected twice, again, heading up a $9 billion investment portfolio.

The biggest thing I would say in both of those offices is managing people and the Treasurer of state.

We have 33 employees.

As in the county I had 22 employees, so.

I think we just take a look at the record of success.

I've been a successful businessman and again the technology and the capability that we provided the Treasury has been probably.

Second to none with with the things that we've done for the state of Arkansas returning over half a billion or half $1,000,000 in investment interest to the states been a great honor for me to be able to do that.

So again, I think our Kansans know that we're approving leader and I would say this much when I get on an airplane, one of the first things I do is look in that cockpit and when that when that pilot has a little Gray hair, I know he's been there and done that.

O that would be my answer.

Very good.

Thank you so much and treasure million.

I'm going to stay with you for this next question.

So the auditor is in charge of this unclaimed property across the state and of course the state has this great treasure hunt and it's an incredibly popular website when when that gets going.

So what do you like about the program and what would you change as auditor?

Well certainly getting Arkansas back their money they own that that that that property not all of it necessarily is in cash some of it's very important papers, memorabilia that.

Type of thing.

I think I would want to discontinue to improve on what Auditor Lee has done and get that message out there.

It is a key component of the office, but it's not the only thing that office does.

Payroll also sitting on two major pension state pensions of which I sit on currently.

And so being able to OfferUp advice, being able to to give recommendations to these boards has been very important.

But I would say we will take a look, certainly technology anyway, to communicate to our Kansans to get the word out about getting their money back to them.

And Miss Johnson, same question to you.

What do you like about the great treasure hunt?

But also what would you make, what changes would you make?

What I like about the Arkansas Gray treasure hunt is that you have the ability of.

Making sure that one can have their assets and property.

Umm.

That's OK.

Anything that you would change about the program?

Something that I would change about the program is more transparency.

Not on the end of anyone trying to hide anything, but on the end of citizens being informed.

Because this is the very important.

Although it's not a policymaking position, it's very important in citizens knowing how beneficial and conducive it is for their life.

Absolutely.

And actually along those lines, I'm going to start with you for the next question.

What is it about the Auditors Office and the position of auditor that was appealing to you?

What I like about it is that it has the capability of allocating funds appropriately.

And what I also like about it is.

Throughout America's history, there has been a negative when it comes to citizens losing their homes and assets.

And so.

As the.

State Auditor I find it very intriguing that that position holds the possibility of making sure that citizens has their assets.

Umm.

Very good, very good.

And Treasurer Milligan, same question to you.

What about, what about the auditor position and office was appealing to you?

Well, certainly a proven commodity is the current Arkansas treasurer state and so I work very closely with the auditor.

Of course the auditor is the only constitutional officer that writes any checks.

So again, just certainly if I get that opportunity to serve as the next state alter, it will be not something I'm uncomfortable with.

I'm used to the budgeting.

Process.

I'm used to dealing with the legislators have a great rapport with those legislators in order to get legislation and act that would help to improve the auditor's office.

Of course, one of my major goals with respect to that office is to get it on the Asus accounting program.

It's currently not.

I think Andrea Auditor Lee had mentioned that if she had a third term, that would be something that she would want to be able to do.

We want to write less checks and and again approve the efficiency.

There.

So again, I think I can walk in there on day one and be running the office very smoothly.

Well, Treasurer Dennis Milligan and Diamond Arnold Johnson, thank you both so much for being with us today.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Absolutely.

And the candidates for the Commissioner of State lands is next.

And please welcome the candidates for Land Commissioner.

The Democratic candidate is Miss Darlene or Goldie Gaines and the Republican candidate, the incumbent commissioner, Tommy Land.

This office is tasked with the disposition of tax delinquent property in the state among other duties provided in the Arkansas State Constitution.

And before we begin, I want to say thank you to both of you for joining us here today.

Thank you for having me.

Thank you.

It's great to be here.

Absolutely.

Well, thank you so much.

So one of the duties of the Land Commissioner is the leasing and permitting of minerals on state owned lands.

Do you support this process and would you make any changes such as lessening restrictions or curtailing the process?

And we'll start with you, Commissioner, for this first question.

Oh, yes, I I most definitely do support that process.

You know there are some issues with mental rights that.

Probably need to be dealt with in the future.

It's a very complicated issue and something that we have talked about.

In my first term and something that hopefully we'll be able to address in in a second term.

Wonderful.

OK, very much.

Thank you for sharing and I want to go over to you as well.

Is there anything that you would change kind of about that particular process with the mineral leasing and just looking at other ways that we can look at renewable energies, so the mineral leasing of the gas and the the oil, I definitely want to look and see where we can make changes for the better for the seat.

Absolutely.

And Miss Gaines, I'm going to start with you for the next question.

The real estate division of the Land Commissioner's Office deals with delinquent taxes and the auction of tax delinquent property.

Are you satisfied with the current process or would you make changes to that operation?

Well, you know, I've traveled across Arkansas and a lot of what I hear is the information that's coming from the seat currently there's not enough communication the process.

I don't see anything wrong with the process.

I have discussed the redemption of period and that's because people find that to be a concern, but I also feel like that's an important piece that should stay in there for new buyers and young couples, so.

Yeah, that's what I just want to keep it there.

And Commissioner Lance, same question to you.

Any changes that you'd like to see there?

You know, we have produced quite a few changes in my first term used to property that had been delinquent for four years and was offered at auction, in person auction.

If it didn't sell at that auction, it remained in our office and it was still for sale and we've introduced an online auction for those parcels that are called post auction parcels.

In other words, they were offered in the in person auction and no one purchased them.

So we've introduced a online auction and I believe that has been very well received and we also made it made an easier process work with the the state legislature to make it easier to redeem your property in the Land Commissioner's Office and the other day I think we.

Had reached the $10 million mark for redemptions online because until I took office we never had an online redemption service.

And so I think that's been something that has been a great help to people who are who are tax delinquent.

The the auction is is not our first choice.

We want people to redeem their property and so that's what we work at as far as notifications and we do research on property to determine if there are errors or someone.

Other interested parties that we need to contact and we try to contact everyone that we can and Commissioner, and I'm going to stay with you and you are the incumbent.

You, you know the office, but for viewers that aren't familiar, fill us in on your background and a little bit about why you believe you are best qualified for this position, OK.

I went to work for AT&T at 18 years old and worked for them for 30 years and retired during that period of time.

I also operated a family cattle farm for about 20 years and during that period of time I purchased real estate as an individual, not commercially.

I bought my first home when I was 19, had to go to court and be declared an adult so I could sign the contract, you know, and and shortly thereafter got married to my current wife, my wife of 47 years and.

And I bought and sold real estate as an individual ever since then you know I feel like I have a good background in that.

I understand what I was the kind of property I was looking for and and kind of what I needed as a young person.

I I got 100% financing on my first home back in 1974 you know and things like that and I understand how tough it is to get started.

This office provides an opportunity if you are careful.

OK and I would I would certainly encourage that.

Careful research.

This office provides an opportunity for people to get started.

Well, there you go.

Congrats on 47 years of marriage.

Very impressive.

And Miss Gaines, over to you when it comes to our viewers, what would you like them to know about you and what makes you qualified for this position?

Well, I have 23 years of operating in a large bureaucratic organization dealing with a lot of policy and process, working on behalf of my Veterans, healthcare, burial and benefit alongside of that being an adjunct professor, teaching business courses.

So to me that.

Makes me qualified.

And that being also a CEO of a nonprofit where we look at sustainability and community unity and we look at poverty.

What I would like to do is really put this seat up on a mountain to make sure that all our Kansans are aware of the operations of the seat.

Right now, as I've traveled, many do not know and fewer knows about the seat in a couple of things that the seat actually does so.

In order for us to really focus on land retention, which will be a main focus, but it will come through education, education in regards to the operations of the siege and how the general public is currently receiving communications.

I believe that once the communications open up and we're able to allow people to have access to this information, no matter where they go hearing it on the radio.

Seeing it more commercials on television, really putting it in their face.

This seat has rolled under the radar for many, many, many, many decades, and it's time for it to be known by all Arkansans.

Right now it's not known by all our Kansans.

And because of that they suffer.

And you do suffer from those things that you do not know, that you're not aware of.

So with that being my aim and me being an activist.

On the frontline looking at community issues, I feel that that makes me the qualified candidate for this position.

Well, Goldie Gaines and Commissioner Tommy Land, I want to thank both of you for being here today and good luck in the election.

Thank you very much for sharing your time with us and thank you for joining us.

And we'll see you next week for election 2022 Arkansas PBS debates, October 17th through October 21st.

Support for Arkansas Week provided by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, The Arkansas Times and K KUARFM, 89.