Martha Shoffner is the current state treasurer

Arkansas State Treasurer

The Arkansas State Treasurer acts as the head banker for the State of Arkansas, handling deposits, withdrawals, redemptions of state warrants, and investments of state funds. The position was created in 1819 when Arkansas became a territory...

 of Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

. A Democrat

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

, she was first elected in 2006, taking office in January 2007. She was re-elected in 2010.

Shoffner was born and raised in Jackson County. Born to a farmer and a school teacher, she graduated from Newport High School and attended Memphis State University and Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...

. She started working in advertising.

Shoffner, a licensed real estate agent, was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives

Arkansas House of Representatives

The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state. Each district has an average population of 26,734...

 in 1996. After being term limited, she was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the state auditor

Arkansas State Auditor

Arkansas State Auditor is an executive position and constitutional officer within the Arkansas government...

. In 2005, Shoffner announced her candidacy for state treasurer on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse. After being outspent almost 3-to-1 Shoffner was elected to the office in 2006.