Martha Shoffner
Arkansas State Treasurer
In office
January 9, 2007 – May 21, 2013[1]
GovernorMike Bebee
Preceded byGus Wingfield
Succeeded byCharles Robinson
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 79th district
In office
1997–2003
Personal details
Born1944 or 1945 (age 78–79)[1]
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Jackson County, Arkansas, U.S.
Alma materMemphis State University Arkansas State University
ProfessionReal estate

Martha Shoffner is the former state treasurer of Arkansas. A Democrat, she was first elected in 2006,[2] taking office in January 2007. She was re-elected in 2010.[3][4]

History

Shoffner was born and raised in Jackson County.[2] Born to a farmer and a school teacher, she graduated from Newport High School and attended Memphis State University and Arkansas State University. She started working in advertising[2] and is also a licensed real estate agent.

Career

Shoffner was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1996.[5]

After being term limited, she was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the state auditor.[6] In 2005, Shoffner announced her candidacy for State Treasurer on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse. After being outspent almost 3-to-1[citation needed] Shoffner was elected to the office in 2006.[2]

Arrest

On May 18, 2013, the FBI arrested Shoffner on a charge of extortion.[7] Following her release on bail, Shoffner resigned as Arkansas State Treasurer on May 21, 2013.[1]

She was subsequently indicted on June 5, 2013, by a Federal Grand Jury on six counts of extortion under color of official right, one count of attempted extortion under color of official right, and seven counts of receipt of a bribe by an agent of a state government receiving federal funds.[8] She was convicted of all counts on March 11, 2014, by a jury of seven women and five men.[9] On August 28, 2015, she was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c DeMillo, Andrew (May 21, 2013). "Arkansas Treasurer Marth Shoffner Resigns Amid Charges She Took Cash". Arkansas Business. Associated Press. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Meet Treasurer Shoffner". Arkansas State Treasury. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Election changes Arkansas' political landscape". Arkansas News. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Gov. Mike Beebe wins re-election". Paragould Daily Press. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Representative Martha Shoffner (Representative)". Arkansas State Legislature. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Treasurer Martha Shoffner is holding onto the state's purse strings while bringing Arkansas art into her office. She still cherishes her family ties around Newport". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  7. ^ "State Treasurer Martha Shoffner Arrested for Extortion by FBI". Arkansas Business. May 18, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  8. ^ "Former Arkansas State Treasurer Martha Ann Shoffner Indicted On Federal Charges Of Extortion And Receipt Of Bribes". www.justice.gov. 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  9. ^ "Jury finds former state treasurer guilty of extortion, bribery". Arkansas News. March 11, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  10. ^ Lauer, Claudia (2015-08-28). "Ex-Arkansas treasurer gets 2 ½ years in prison". AP News. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
Party political offices Preceded byGus Wingfield Democratic nominee for Treasurer of Arkansas 2006, 2010 Succeeded byKaren Sealy Garcia Political offices Preceded byGus Wingfield Arkansas State Treasurer 2007–2013 Succeeded byCharles Robinson


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