State Senate Races to Watch in Arkansas
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: November 2, 2012
On Election Day, Arkansans will cast their votes for everything from the presidency to choosing candidates in local races.
They'll also decide who to send to the State Capitol as representatives in the Arkansas Senate.
A total of 55 candidates are running for 35 seats.
We've selected xix of those races as the ones to watch:
District 7 - Rep. Jon Woods (R) versus Diana Gonzales Worthen (D)
Woods, of Springdale, won a competitive primary to run against the first Latin woman ever to run in Arkansas. Woods was first elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in November of 2006 and he has been re-elected twice. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Public Health Committee, and is a member of the Insurance and Commerce Committee and the Arkansas Legislative Council.
Worthen, also of Springdale, is a veteran educator, small business owner, and the grand-daughter of immigrants. She has taught at Rogers and Springdale Public Schools and the University of Arkansas. Today she directs Project Teach Them All, a Department of Education grant program providing training for teachers seeking an ESL endorsement.
District 9 - Sen. Bruce Holland (R) v. Rep. Tracy Pennartz (D)
Holland, of Greenwood, made headlines last year when he was chased by a sheriff's deputy across two counties. Holland says he believes in keeping our state government small and in rights for land owners.
Pennartz, of Fort Smith, is looking to make the move from the Arkansas House. Her campaign website states that her priorities are economic development and no grocery taxes.
District 15 - Rep. David Sanders (R) v. Johnny Hoyt (D)
This is the Senate seat for a good portion of West Little Rock.
Sanders calls himself a committed conservative leader who's fighting for a better Arkansas. He has previously served District 31 of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Hoyt says he will focus on creating new jobs and working with district businesses and leaders to help protect the jobs already here.
District 28 - Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R) v. Rep. Tiffany Rogers (D)
Incumbent Dismang, of Searcy, is looking to hold on to this seat, while Rogers is seeking a move from the Arkansas House.
Dismang owns a consulting firm through which he provides financial oversight for a number of companies with an emphasis in real estate. He has been named Legislator of the Year by the Arkansas Realtors Association.
Rogers, of Stuttgart, has served as Director of Continuing Education at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas for over 15 years. She's made job creation in Arkansas her focal point.
District 34 - Rep. Jane English (R) v. Rep. Barry Hyde (D)
This race has been contentious and it's one both sides think they could win.
Both English and Hyde have served in the Arkansas House of Representatives. English, of North Little Rock, has experience that includes more than two decades working on economic development and workforce training as a Senior Project Manager for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Director of both the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board and Arkansas Manufacturers Association.
Hyde has served North Little Rock and Sherwood for three terms as state representative. He is a military veteran and also the CEO of Hydco, Inc., a commercial construction company he started more than 20 years ago.
District 35 - Sen. Jason Rapert (R) v. Rep. Linda Tyler (D)
District 35 includes Faulkner and Perry counties.
Rapert is a financial advisor and co-owner of Rapert & Pillow Financial in Conway. He is also the founder and former president of the faith-based humanitarian mission organization Holy Ghost Ministries, Inc., which provides clean water and assistance to the poor and orphans in Ghana West Africa, Uganda and the Philippines. Rapert's campaign website states that he seeks to change the status quo that has existed in Arkansas for the last 140 years.
Tyler has served in the Arkansas House since 2006. The well-known Conway business leader spent the bulk of her career as a senior Organizational Development Leader at Acxiom Corporation before retiring from the company and entering politics.
They'll also decide who to send to the State Capitol as representatives in the Arkansas Senate.
A total of 55 candidates are running for 35 seats.
We've selected xix of those races as the ones to watch:
District 7 - Rep. Jon Woods (R) versus Diana Gonzales Worthen (D)
Woods, of Springdale, won a competitive primary to run against the first Latin woman ever to run in Arkansas. Woods was first elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in November of 2006 and he has been re-elected twice. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Public Health Committee, and is a member of the Insurance and Commerce Committee and the Arkansas Legislative Council.
Worthen, also of Springdale, is a veteran educator, small business owner, and the grand-daughter of immigrants. She has taught at Rogers and Springdale Public Schools and the University of Arkansas. Today she directs Project Teach Them All, a Department of Education grant program providing training for teachers seeking an ESL endorsement.
District 9 - Sen. Bruce Holland (R) v. Rep. Tracy Pennartz (D)
Holland, of Greenwood, made headlines last year when he was chased by a sheriff's deputy across two counties. Holland says he believes in keeping our state government small and in rights for land owners.
Pennartz, of Fort Smith, is looking to make the move from the Arkansas House. Her campaign website states that her priorities are economic development and no grocery taxes.
District 15 - Rep. David Sanders (R) v. Johnny Hoyt (D)
This is the Senate seat for a good portion of West Little Rock.
Sanders calls himself a committed conservative leader who's fighting for a better Arkansas. He has previously served District 31 of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Hoyt says he will focus on creating new jobs and working with district businesses and leaders to help protect the jobs already here.
District 28 - Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R) v. Rep. Tiffany Rogers (D)
Incumbent Dismang, of Searcy, is looking to hold on to this seat, while Rogers is seeking a move from the Arkansas House.
Dismang owns a consulting firm through which he provides financial oversight for a number of companies with an emphasis in real estate. He has been named Legislator of the Year by the Arkansas Realtors Association.
Rogers, of Stuttgart, has served as Director of Continuing Education at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas for over 15 years. She's made job creation in Arkansas her focal point.
District 34 - Rep. Jane English (R) v. Rep. Barry Hyde (D)
This race has been contentious and it's one both sides think they could win.
Both English and Hyde have served in the Arkansas House of Representatives. English, of North Little Rock, has experience that includes more than two decades working on economic development and workforce training as a Senior Project Manager for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Director of both the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board and Arkansas Manufacturers Association.
Hyde has served North Little Rock and Sherwood for three terms as state representative. He is a military veteran and also the CEO of Hydco, Inc., a commercial construction company he started more than 20 years ago.
District 35 - Sen. Jason Rapert (R) v. Rep. Linda Tyler (D)
District 35 includes Faulkner and Perry counties.
Rapert is a financial advisor and co-owner of Rapert & Pillow Financial in Conway. He is also the founder and former president of the faith-based humanitarian mission organization Holy Ghost Ministries, Inc., which provides clean water and assistance to the poor and orphans in Ghana West Africa, Uganda and the Philippines. Rapert's campaign website states that he seeks to change the status quo that has existed in Arkansas for the last 140 years.
Tyler has served in the Arkansas House since 2006. The well-known Conway business leader spent the bulk of her career as a senior Organizational Development Leader at Acxiom Corporation before retiring from the company and entering politics.
