Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Dismang: I am a native of Maynard, Ark. I am married to Mandy (Staggs) of Searcy, and I am the proud father of two boys. We worship at the Cloverdale Church of Christ in Searcy. I graduated with honors from Beebe High School in 1997 and completed my degrees with cum laude distinction in accounting and economics at Harding University in 2001. After several years in public accounting, I took a Chief Financial Officer position with Whitwell & Ryles Real Estate Investments, LLC of North Little Rock in 2007. In addition to my position with Whitwell & Ryles, I began Dismang Consulting Services, LLC in 2008, through which I provide financial oversight for a number of companies with emphasis in real estate.
Rogers: I was born and raised in Stuttgart, Ark. I went to ASU – Jonesboro but didn’t finish. I dropped out in the middle of my junior year, went home and worked … then a job came open at Phillip’s Community College in Stuttgart. I got a job there with the understanding that I would finish my bachelor’s degree and I did. I went ahead and got my master’s degree in education too. I was working full-time and I knew that is where I wanted to be. I work in administration as the director of continuing education and I’ve been there now for 15 years.
Q: What are your core issues and standards that you stand by when voting on legislation?
Dismang: When seated on the floor of the Senate, I strive to vote from the collective perspective of our district; not from a partisan perspective, but from the standpoint of a Christian with conservative values and a common sense approach to the issues. I fully believe in having an open government that makes it easy for you to hold me accountable for my actions.
Rogers: Jobs will be a big issue, especially for this district. I have a jobs plan listed on my website. I worked with a professor from the University of Arkansas and put it together this summer. And it’s very comprehensive and it includes the White County portion, the Fayetteville Shale, the natural gas pipe, crops and possibilities for renewable energies. One of the biggest things I want to see is the continuation of the completion of the grocery tax cut. I’m House chair of the energy committee and those issues are very important to me. I want to continue here in White County the prospects of the Fayetteville Shale.
Q: Why do you want to serve this district?
Dismang: We have had a strong history of leadership in Senate District 29, now 28. Together we have made a lot of progress for the state and I would like to continue that progress. This is a conservative district and I am the only conservative candidate. I will work to make sure that our views are fully represented in the state Senate.
Rogers: I know there is work to do in this district. I want to work for things that can be accomplished in Arkansas and things that are important and those we have control over. I’m not influenced by outside interest groups; I’m not obligated to them in any way. That’s just not who I am. I am a very conservative person by nature, very much so on fiscal issues and even on several social issues. I hope and pray that people will consider me as a person instead of the letter beside my name.
