| Residence: | Jackson County, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Office: | Arkansas State Treasurer |
| Term Start: | January 9, 2007 |
| Term End: | May 21, 2013[1] |
| Governor: | Mike Bebee |
| Predecessor: | Gus Wingfield |
| Successor: | Charles Robinson |
| State House2: | Arkansas |
| District2: | 79th |
| Term Start2: | 1997 |
| Term End2: | 2003 |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Alma Mater: | Memphis State UniversityArkansas State University |
| Profession: | Real 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]
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. She started working in advertising and is also a licensed real estate agent.
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 Shoffner was elected to the office in 2006.
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]