Today, I received a letter from the Arkansas Ethics Commission regarding a complaint I filed against White County Judge Mike Lincoln for improperly using taxpayer funds to promote a tax increase.

In the letter, which is addressed to the judge, the Commission ruled the following:

On October 28, 2011, you signed a written Offer of Settlement pursuant to which it was agreed that the commission make a finding that you committed a violation of Arkansas Code Ann. § 7-9-409(a)(2) and (a)(3) by spending public funds in excess of $500 to expressly advocate the passage of a ballot measure to fund a Searcy bypass project and failing to report those expenditures.

As part of its disposition of this case, the Commission is hereby issuing you this Public Letter of Caution which is advisory in nature and serves to give clear notice that your actions violated the law.  You are advised not to engage in the same activity again.

You can read the letter here: Page 1 & Page 2.

Nic Horton