House District 92 Republican candidates have filed their monthly financial reports.
Three candidates are vying to replace long-time Republican state Rep. Julie Mayberry, who announced she would not seek re-election last July.
Eric Shepherd, who is a Little Rock firefighter and a realtor, reported raising $1,425 in the month of December. Three individuals donated to Shepherd and three PACs.
The three PACs were:
- RAY PAC, Maumelle $250
- Capitol Consulting Firm Liberty PAC, Little Rock, $250
- ENPAC Arkansas, Little Rock, $250
RAY PAC is the PAC of Republican state Rep. David Ray, who also works as a consultant to Attorney General Tim Griffin. Griffin endorsed Shepherd in the Republican primary on Nov. 3, according to a news release.
Capitol Consulting Firm Liberty PAC is registered to Rett Hatcher, who once worked for Gilmor Davis Strategy Group (then called Gilmore Strategy Group). Shepherd pays Gilmore Davis Strategy Group for consulting services.
Capitol Consulting also donates to other legislature candidates and Republican incumbents including Griffin who is listed as a top payee of the PAC with $6,600 donated to him.
ENPAC Arkansas is Entergy's employee-run Political Action Committee (Entergy Corporation Employee Political Action Committee). It supports state and federal candidates.
Dawn Creekmore, a former Democratic legislator turned Republican who lives in East End and works as a consumer/mortgage lender for People's Bank, raised $3,150. Three individuals contributed to her campaign and two PACs.
The two PACS were:
- Capitol Consulting Firm PAC, Little Rock, $250
- Arkansas Credit Union
Political Action Committee, Little Rock, $250
Hatcher's Capitol Consulting Firm PAC is the same group that contributed to Shepherd.
Capitol Consulting has several registered PACS in Arkansas: Capitol Consulting Firm Liberty PAC, Capitol Consulting Firm Freedom PAC, Capitol Consulting Firm PAC - Statewide, Capitol Consulting Firm PAC - Legislative and Capitol Consulting Firm PAC
Casey Reed, a realtor in Sheridan, raised $1,100 from five individuals. He took no PAC money. Reed was sued in December by Ken Yang, a Saline County political consultant who cannot vote in House District 92.
Yang argues that Reed cannot be on the ballot because of a complicated legal matter that went before Judge Chris Williams in 2012.
Reed through his attorney, Steve Harrelson of Little Rock, is appealing Pulaski County Circuit Judge Catherine Compton's Jan 8 ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Reed's name remains on the ballot as a candidate.
Who Paid Who?
Shepherd was the only candidate to pay a political consulting firm in this reporting cycle.
He paid a $990 invoice and another $4,045.29 for a Christmas mailer to Gilmore Davis Strategy Group.
Gilmore Davis Strategy Group has recently made news because Jamie Barker, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, recently joined the firm.
Shepherd also spent $5,087.34 on advertising, post cards, postage, a post office box rental, signs and materials for signs.
Creekmore spent $1,682.13 on advertising and a meet and greet.
Reed spent $5,001.26 on signs and advertising.
The primary election is March 3. Early voting begins Feb. 16. To vote in the primary election, you must register by Feb. 2.
