July 13, 2009

(Little Rock, Arkansas) - Pulaski Circuit/County Clerk Pat O'Brien announced today that his campaign for Secretary of State received contributions of $122,851.04 for the period ending June 30, 2009. That amount is the most contributions ever raised during one reporting period for the Office of Secretary of State in Arkansas.

"I am very happy that we set a record in our first report", said O'Brien, "We have a long way to go and the competitive race could make this the most expensive Secretary of State's campaign ever." O'Brien noted that his campaign will release an electronic copy of the report to the media each time a reporting deadline occurs. "We are certainly grateful for the support we have received thus far and we want to be an open and transparent campaign," said O'Brien. The record amount raised includes $2,000.00 each for an expected run-off and general election campaign. There is also $1,350.00 in in-kind contributions included in the overall total.

O'Brien has lived in Jacksonville since the age of three, working in the family business as a teenager and graduating from Jacksonville Public Schools. He went on to receive his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville before returning home in 1995 to establish a general practice of law. O'Brien also worked two years as Director of Operations for JKP Foods, Inc., which was a family owned business consisting of seven McDonald's restaurants in North Pulaski County employing 350 people. His public service includes one term as the Jacksonville representative on the Pulaski County Special School District Board. He did not run for re-election in 2003. O'Brien was also Chief of Staff for the 22nd Judicial District's Prosecuting Attorney's office in 2003.

If you have any questions about the press release, call Pat O'Brien at (501) 241-1036 or visit the campaign website at www.PatOBrienforArkansas.com.