District 45 Republican candidate Alan Fortney of Conway admitted Thursday that he has been arrested three times for exposing himself to children.
Fortney, 42, said the first incident was in 1981 when he was in college at Westark Community College (now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith). He was 18 or 19 years old at the time, he said.
The second time was in Fort Smith in 1988; and the third arrest was in Georgia when he was "working computers" for McGregor Golf Co. in Albany. He was married during the third incident, but has since divorced and remarried.
His current wife, Jan, is aware of his past, he said.
"We all make mistakes in life, and those are my mistakes," Fortney said during a telephone interview.
Fortney said the incidents were misdemeanors. He was fined but never served time in jail.
A project manager for Acxiom Corp. in Conway, Fortney plans to remain in the race.
Fortney said he did not plan the incidents and did not know the children involved. He also said there was no physical contact.
When asked where the incidents occurred, he said, "No particular place."
Fortney did not respond when asked if there were other occasions that he exposed himself but did not get caught.
"God saw fit to make sure I was not going to get away with those sins," he said. "I've asked forgiveness a million times, although I know it only takes once."
Fortney said he realizes people won't understand his actions.
"I don't understand myself. There's no name for it. There's no disease for it."
Fortney said he tried to put those incidents behind him and work for the good of the community.
"You never forget it. You learn from your mistakes ... in a way, that's why you try to do things for people."
He entered counseling and he said, "I think counseling worked."
A native of Clarksville (Johnson County), Fortney said his parents were aware of his arrests and were "devastated." Fortney said he doesn't know what kind of response he will receive from the community.
"I imagine it's not going to be pretty, but I'm hoping people will understand that people aren't perfect. If we're looking for people who are perfect, we're never going to find a candidate."
District 45 incumbent Betty Pickett, D-Conway, was taken aback when she heard about Fortney's incidents and asked for time to think about her response before talking with the Log Cabin.
"It completely caught me by surprise. I did know about his 1999 bankruptcy that I found through your (Log Cabin Democrat) Web site, but I did not plan to use that because I wanted my campaign to be a positive campaign letting people know where I stand on education, economic development and accountability, and I believe it's something the voters are going to have to consider when they go to vote."
Pickett was asked whether she thinks Fortney should drop out of the race.
"I don't really know. I guess if it was a misdemeanor that makes it kind of a different" issue than if it were a felony.
Fortney believes he can still be an effective representative.
"It's unfortunate that somebody decided to notify everybody a few days before the election."
Fortney, who moved to Conway in 1995, has been involved in the community in various ways, including serving as coordinator for the United Way campaign at Acxiom in Conway, as a loaned executive with the United Way, and chairman of the United Way's $50 More campaign in 2003.
He is on the Conway Human Development Center Volunteer Council, is president of the Parents' Association, state coordinator of the Voice of the Retarded, a national organization, and is a member of the Conway Lions Club. He is a member of the choir at Antioch Baptist Church.
His grown stepdaughter is a client at CHDC and Fortney said in an earlier interview about the representative race that "I think I need to do what I can to protect the employees and residents out at CHDC."
Fortney's wife, Jan, said she fully supports her husband.
"He's been nothing but straightforward with me from the time we met about this.
"I was very shocked, and I was torn, because I had a daughter at home at that time, one that was handicapped to boot ... but I prayed about it, and I learned to be forthright with him about it. I trust him completely."
She said her daughter "adores" him.
Mrs. Fortney accompanied him to counseling sessions before they were married almost 13 years ago.
Mrs. Fortney said her husband was young and he made bad decisions.
"It ruined his life before," she said.
"I thank the Lord he never touched one of them."
Fortney has a 17-year-old daughter from his first marriage.
"Everybody has something in his past ... He's the most giving person I know."
Mrs. Fortney said they realized his past problems might surface during the election.
"He's got to have a lot of guts and a very committed spirit to do this. He wants to help the disabled who can't help themselves. We felt like that was a stronger purpose than his past," she said.
"The person he is today is nothing like he was."
Fortney said he talked with Jason Aultman, associate pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, where he is a member.
Aultman said, "He's been very active in the church and still is and I've had the opportunity to know him for several years. He's been an exemplary person as far as what I've seen evidenced in his life."
Aultman said he admires Fortney's character for not lying about the incidents when asked.
"It takes a lot of character to say, 'Here's a skeleton I don't want to deal with, but I've tried to move past and make things right.'
"I don't lessen the seriousness of what he did, but I would certainly hope and expect the church would support him through it and who among us, if the closet to our past was flung wide open, wouldn't have embarrassing situations to acknowledge."
Fortney said he wants people to understand that "everybody makes mistakes and just because they make mistakes doesn't mean they're no good. They can still be helpful."
(Staff writer Tammy Keith can be reached by e-mail at tammy.keith@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238.)
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