Malone plans to fix error on campaign contribution report

Rep. Stephanie Malone, R-Fort Smith, has said her contribution report showing $3,000 in contributions from Michael Carter is in error and the mistake is being corrected.

The error was brought to light in a Tuesday (April 27) report by The City Wire that showed the contributions of Malone and Fort Smith City Director Gary Campbell. The two are in the GOP primary for the Arkansas House of Representatives District 64 seat the represents portions of Fort Smith. The primary is the race because no Democrats filed for the District 64 seat.

In her reports, Malone shows Michael Carter, an attorney with Stephens Production and former president of Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp., donating $1,500 in January and $1,500 in March. Contributions are limited to $2,000 per election (primary elections, runoff, special election, general election). On both reports, Malone shows the $1,500 marked for the primary election — a clear violation.

Malone told The City Wire that Debbie Chandler, who produces the reports for Malone, is working on a report amendment.

“I got a hold of her to explain the ($1,500) received in (March) was for a general election. She (Chandler) is amending the report today. It was an oversight on both of our parts. Sorry for the mix up. Thank you for the email and giving me a chance to explain,” Malone said in an e-mail note.

According to Arkansas campaign contribution rules, a candidate can receive money for an election even if running opposed. The rule has been changed from a previous rule that disallowed contributions to a candidate running unopposed.

At the end of March, Malone, a first-term member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, reported collecting total contributions of $14,605, with $7,800 of that coming from individuals and political action committees outside the Fort Smith area.

Campbell has raised $8,100, with just $400 of that coming from individuals and PACs outside the Fort Smith area.