Ark. Lt. Gov., Sec. of State report trips, gifts

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Lt. Gov. Mark Darr and Secretary of State Mark Martin each went on trips paid by outside groups valued at about $10,000 last year, with both officeholders making separate trips overseas, according to recently filed financial interest statements.

Darr reported trips to China, Texas and Washington he went on were valued at $9,418 and a scroll and plate received was valued at $150. Martin reported trips to Taiwan and Kentucky valued at $10,000.

The two reported the trips last week on annual statements of financial interest filed with the state. Tuesday is the deadline for state officeholders to file their reports.

Darr in October traveled to China in a trip that he valued at $7,308. The trip was hosted by the National Lieutenant Governors Association through its work with the Chinese People's Friendship Association with Foreign Countries and the China-US Exchange Foundation.

He reported Goodman Networks, a telecommunications company, paid $1,420 for an economic development trip he took to Austin, Texas in April. Darr's office said he met with Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams and officials with Goodman Networks during the trip.

Americans for Prosperity, a GOP-leaning group, also paid $690.29 for Darr's trip to Washington in November for the group's annual "Defending the American Dream" summit.

Martin reported the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office paid $8,000 for a trip he took to Taiwan in late September and early October. Martin's office said he went as part of a delegation on the trip, which was coordinated through a partnership between the Taipei office and the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Martin said he went to Lexington, Ky. in September on a trip valued at $2,000 for the Henry Toll Fellowship Program. The trip was paid for by the Council of State Governments, which organizes the fellowship program.

Darr and Martin are Republicans who were elected to office in 2010. Martin didn't report any income beyond his $54,305 state salary, and reported he and his wife have more than $26,000 in holdings.

Aside from his $41,896 state salary, Darr reported more than $2,000 in income from his pizza restaurant and insurance company. His wife, Kimberly, earned more than $12,500 as an elementary schoolteacher.

Gov. Mike Beebe did not report any trips or gifts. Aside from his $84,114 salary, Beebe, a Democrat, reported earning more than $39,500 in interest from certificates of deposit, bonds and money market accounts. He reported that he and his wife have more than $163,500 in investments.

The gifts are one of the few areas on the disclosure forms where elected officials are required to list specific estimates. For income and holdings, they don't list specific amounts and instead check boxes marked either "more than $1,000" or "more than $12,500."

Aside from his $54,305 state salary, Auditor Charlie Daniels reported more than $14,500 in income from retirement and Social Security benefits and more than $12,500 in holdings. Treasurer Martha Shoffner did not report any income or holdings beyond her $54,305 salary.

___

Andrew DeMillo can be reached at www.twitter.com/ademillo