CONWAY — Republican Karen Umberger is a candidate for one of three open state representative seats in Conway. This recent interview with Sun Publisher Mark Guerringue has been edited for clarity and brevity. The full interview can be seen at conwaydailysun.com or on Valley Vision. Two other Republicans, Bob Nelson and Gregory Corrigan, also are running. Both declined interviews. They will face Democrats David Paige (incumbent), Ellin Leonard and Ben Colbath in the general election Nov. 3.
Guerringue: Karen, you’ve served six terms as a state representative, been a selectman and served on the Conway Charter Commission. You haven’t been a representative for four years. Why are you running now?
kAm&>36C86Ci $6G6C2= A6@A=6 42>6 FA E@ >6 2?5 D2:5[ “z2C6?[ H6 ?665 J@F 5@H? :? r@?4@C5]” *@F 42? @?=J D2J ?@ E@ D@ >2?J A6@A=6 367@C6 J@F DE2CE E9:?<:?8 23@FE :E] x 564:565 E96J H6C6 C:89E] (6 ?665 2 #6AF3=:42? C6AC6D6?E:?8 r@?H2J :? r@?4@C5]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i (92E H@F=5 36 J@FC AC:@C:EJ :7 J@F C6EFC?nk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci x’> 2 3:8 3F586E 2?5 7:?2?46 A6CD@?] ~?6 E9:?8 x’G6 ?@E:465 :D E96C6 D66>D E@ 36 2 E6?56?4J 7@C E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 E@ 3FEE 9625D] x 9@A6 x 42? 96=A 62D6 E92E 2 =:EE=6 D@ H6 5@?’E 6?5 FA H:E9 5:2>6EC:42==J @AA@D65 A@D:E:@?D @? >2;@C :DDF6D]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i %96 w@FD6 :D >@C6 4@?D6CG2E:G6[ H9:=6 E96 $6?2E6 E6?5D E@ 36 >@C6 32=2?465] xD E92E H92E J@F >62?nk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci *6D] xE’D 5:77:4F=E 7@C E96 w@FD6 E@ AC@;64E H92E H:== 92AA6? EH@ J62CD @FE 3642FD6 :E >FDE >2<6 564:D:@?D 62C=J :? E96 3F586E AC@46DD] qJ E96 E:>6 E96 $6?2E6 C646:G6D E96 w@FD6 3F586E[ :E 92D 925 D6G6C2= >@C6 >@?E9D @7 C6G6?F6 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 42? 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 E96 7:?2?4:2= A:4EFC6]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i t5F42E:@? uC665@> p44@F?ED[ @C D49@@= G@F496CD[ 3682? 2D 2 H2J E@ 96=A =@H6C\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D 277@C5 2=E6C?2E:G6D E@ AF3=:4 D49@@=D] }@H :E 92D 6IA2?565 7C@> 23@FE S` >:==:@? E@ Sd_ >:==:@?] |2?J C64:A:6?ED 2=C625J 92G6 E96:C 49:=5C6? :? AC:G2E6 D49@@=D] (9J D9@F=5 E2IA2J6CD DF3D:5:K6 AC:G2E6 65F42E:@?nk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci s@?’E BF@E6 >6 @? E96 7:8FC6[ 3FE x E9:?< E96 2G6C286 2H2C5 :D 2C@F?5 Sc[f__] !6@A=6 >2<6 :E D@F?5 2D E9@F89 72>:=:6D 2C6 C646:G:?8 6?@C>@FD 2>@F?ED @7 >@?6J[ 3FE E92E’D ?@E E96 42D6] p?5 >2?J @7 E96 72>:=:6D C646:G:?8 65F42E:@? 7C665@> 244@F?ED 2C6 :? E96 >:55=6 @C =@H6C :?4@>6 3C24<6ED[ ?@E 2E E96 E@A] !2C6?ED C646:G:?8 E96D6 244@F?ED 2=D@ A2J AC@A6CEJ E2I6D E92E DFAA@CE AF3=:4 D49@@=D] x H@F=5 2C8F6 E92E H92E E96J A2J :? AC@A6CEJ E2I6D :D 6BF2= E@ @C 8C62E6C E92? H92E E96J C646:G6 E9C@F89 E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i x 5@?’E E9:?< 2?J@?6 5:DAFE6D E92E E96J A2J E2I6D] %96 A9:=@D@A9:42= BF6DE:@? :D H9J x D9@F=5 A2J E2I6D E@ DFAA@CE 2 AC:G2E6 D49@@= H96? x 92G6 ?@ 4@?EC@= @G6C E92E 564:D:@?] u2>:=:6D 92G6 2=H2JD 366? 23=6 E@ D6?5 E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ AC:G2E6 D49@@=] %96 :DDF6 :D FD:?8 AF3=:4 >@?6J E@ DF3D:5:K6 E92E 49@:46]k^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci ~?6 4@F=5 2C8F6 E92E] qFE >2?J 72>:=:6D H9@ @AE65 7@C t5F42E:@? uC665@> p44@F?ED H6C6 9@>6D49@@=:?8 E96:C 49:=5C6?[ D@ E96J H6C6?’E A2CE @7 E96 AF3=:4 D49@@= DJDE6>] $@>6 4@?E:?F6 E@ 9@>6D49@@=[ H9:=6 @E96CD 92G6 49@D6? E@ D6?5 E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ 2 EC25:E:@?2= D49@@=] x’> D:>A=J ?@E ?62C=J 2D ?682E:G6 23@FE t5F42E:@? uC665@> p44@F?ED 2D >J s6>@4C2E:4 7C:6?5D 2C6]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i *@F’G6 366? H@C<:?8 2D 2 4@?DF=E2?E @? E96 $6?2E6 3F586E] w@H 5:5 E92E 4@>6 23@FEnk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci %96J 42==65 2?5 D2:5 E96J H2?E65 96=A H:E9 E96 3F586E 3642FD6 E96J 76=E E96:C 56AE9 @7 <?@H=6586 @? E96 u:?2?46 r@>>:EE66 H2D?’E 2D 6IE6?D:G6 2D E96J H@F=5 =:<6] %96J 2D<65 H96E96C x H@F=5 36 H:==:?8 E@ D6CG6 2D 2 4@?DF=E2?E]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i %92E’D 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 6?5@CD6>6?E @7 J@FC 6IA6C:6?46] xD :E F?FDF2= E@ 9:C6 D@>6@?6 H9@ 92D D6CG65 2D 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6nk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci %96 $6?2E6 9:C6D 4@?DF=E2?ED E@ 96=A H:E9 :ED H@C<[ D@ E92E A2CE :D?’E F?FDF2=] xE >2J 36 F?FDF2= E@ 9:C6 D@>6@?6 H9@ 92D 366? 2 D:EE:?8 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i p?@E96C >2;@C :DDF6 :D E96 C6A62= @7 E96 x?E6C6DE 2?5 s:G:56?5D %2I[ H9:49 C65F465 DE2E6 C6G6?F6 3J C@F89=J S`e_ >:==:@? @G6C E96 EH@\J62C 3F586E 4J4=6] *@F AC6G:@FD=J D2:5 E96 E2I 27764E65 D6?:@CD H9@ ?66565 E96 >@?6J E@ DFAA=6>6?E $@4:2= $64FC:EJ] qFE 2 D>2== A6C46?E286 @7 E2IA2J6CD A2:5 >@DE @7 :E] w@H 5:5 E96 C6A62= 96=A =@H6C\:?4@>6 C6E:C66Dnk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci (6 5@?’E <?@H 6G6CJ@?6’D 7:?2?4:2= 4:C4F>DE2?46D] %96 E2I 2AA=:65 H96? :?E6C6DE 2?5 5:G:56?5D 6I466565 2 Sa[d__ E9C6D9@=5] !6@A=6 H:E9 c_`W<X 244@F?ED @C DE@4< >2C<6E :?G6DE>6?ED 4@F=5 6I4665 E92E 2>@F?E H:E9@FE ?646DD2C:=J 36:?8 H62=E9J]k^Am
kAmx H@?’E 2C8F6 E92E H62=E9J A6@A=6 A2:5 >@DE @7 E96 E2I] %96J 5:5] qFE x’> ?@E 2 3:8 AC@A@?6?E @7 E2I6D] x 36=:6G6 A6@A=6 D9@F=5 <66A E96:C >@?6J 2?5 DA6?5 :E 2D E96J E9:?< 36DE]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i #6AF3=:42?D 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ DA6?5 AF3=:4 >@?6J @? t5F42E:@? uC665@> p44@F?ED H9:=6 4FEE:?8 E2I6D] %92E’D 2 A9:=@D@A9:42= 49@:46 23@FE H9:49 AC@8C2>D 56D6CG6 AF3=:4 DFAA@CE]k^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci *6D] p?5 s6>@4C2ED 92G6 =68:D=2E:@? 7@C 2? :?4@>6 E2I 2?5 2 D2=6D E2I] x7 E96J E2<6 4@?EC@= @7 E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6[ H6’== D66 H92E 92AA6?D]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i {6E’D 5:D4FDD E96 D49@@= E2I 42A @? E96 }@G] b 32==@E W24C@DD E96 DE2E6X] xE C6BF:C6D 2 e_ A6C46?E >2;@C:EJ E@ A2DD] |J F?56CDE2?5:?8 :D E92E :E =:>:ED D49@@= 3F586E :?4C62D6D E@ :?7=2E:@? A=FD 8C@HE9 7C@> ?6H 4@?DECF4E:@?] xD E92E 4@CC64Enk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci *6D] xE’D @?=J E2C86E65 2E D49@@= 3F586ED] p?5 H96? H6 E2=< 23@FE 8C@HE9[ :E >62?D ?6H AC@A6CEJ[ DF49 2D 2 ?6H 9@E6=] xE 5@6D?’E >62? E92E E96 2DD6DD65 G2=F6D @7 6I:DE:?8 9@>6D 92G6 :?4C62D65]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i pD 2 #6AF3=:42?[ 9@H 5@ J@F 766= 23@FE E96 DE2E6 E6==:?8 E@H?D H92E E@ 5@nk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci x 28C66 E92E :E D9@F=5 36 =@42= 4@?EC@=] qFE x 86E E:C65 @7 962C:?8 A6@A=6 D2J E96J H2?E =@42= 4@?EC@= 2?5 E96? 4@>A=2:? E92E E96:C E2I6D 2C6 E@@ 9:89]k^Am
kAmx E9:?< E96 {68:D=2EFC6 H2D ECJ:?8 E@ <66A D49@@= 3F586ED :?4C62D:?8 2E E96 C2E6 @7 :?7=2E:@? A=FD 8C@HE9] %96 ?F>36C @7 D49@@=49:=5C6? 92D 564=:?65[ J6E AC@A6CEJ E2I6D 92G6 4@?E:?F65 E@ C:D6]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i s@ J@F DFAA@CE E96 42Ank^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci x 92G6 ?@ AC@3=6> H:E9 42AA:?8 D49@@= 3F586E :?4C62D6D 2E :?7=2E:@?] x 5@ 92G6 2 AC@3=6> H:E9 E96 D6A2C2E6 e A6C46?E =:>:E @? E96 D49@@= 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 F?:E 3F586E] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :7 r@?H2J A2DD6D E96 42A 3FE q2CE=6EE 5@6D?’E[ E96 EH@ 4@>>F?:E:6D 4@F=5 7246 5:776C6?E C6DEC:4E:@?D @? E96:C 4@?EC:3FE:@?D] x 5@?’E =:<6 E92E]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i r@?H2J 92D 4@?D:56C65 =@42= E2I 42AD 367@C6[ 2?5 G@E6CD C6;64E65 E96>] (9J H@F=5 E96 DE2E6 E9:?< 2 DE2E6\>2?52E65 42A H@F=5 DF44665 H96? =@42= AC@A@D2=D 92G6 72:=65nk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci x 28C66 H:E9 J@F] r@?H2J G@E65 @? E2I 42AD E9C66 @C 7@FC E:>6D H96? x H2D :? E96 {68:D=2EFC6] x H2D 2 =625:?8 AC@A@?6?E :? 86EE:?8 E96 D:8?2EFC6D ?66565 E@ 3C:?8 E96 AC@A@D2= 7@CH2C5] t249 E:>6[ :E 72:=65]k^Am
kAm%96 4FCC6?E 42A H@F=5 =2DE @?=J EH@ J62CD 367@C6 G@E6CD C64@?D:56C :E :? a_ag] x7 2 4@>>F?:EJ 2AAC@G6D :E :? a_ae 3FE 492?86D :ED >:?5 :? a_ag[ :E 42? G@E6 :E 5@H?] %96 6?E:C6 AC@8C2> 6?5D :? a_b_]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i *@F =@DE J@FC D62E :? a_aa 27E6C C65:DEC:4E:?8[ H96? r@?H2J 3642>6 :ED @H? 5:DEC:4E] xE’D 2 s6>@4C2E:4\=62?:?8 E@H?] w@H 5@ J@F @G6C4@>6 E92Enk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci #6AF3=:42?D 92G6 E@ 86E @FE E96 G@E6] x? E96 AC:>2CJ[ C@F89=J EH:46 2D >2?J A6@A=6 E@@< s6>@4C2E:4 32==@ED 2D #6AF3=:42? 32==@ED] %@@ >2?J #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 :?56A6?56?ED 5@?’E 3@E96C G@E:?8 :? @77\J62C 6=64E:@?D]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A’D 2AAC@G2= C2E:?8D 2C6?’E 96=A:?8 #6AF3=:42?D]k^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci w:D 2AAC@G2= C2E:?8 :D 5:D>2=] x’> ?@E DFC6 96 56D6CG6D 2== E96 4C:E:4:D>[ 3FE D@>6 @7 :E 96 5@6D]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i v:G6? J@FC >:=:E2CJ 324<8C@F?5[ x H2?E E@ 2D< 23@FE %CF>A’D 2AAC@249 E@ &<C2:?6[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 3FJ:?8 #FDD:2? 5:6D6= 7F6=] (9J 2C6?’E >:=:E2CJ @77:4:2=D 23=6 E@ DE@A 2 A@=:4J E92E 4@F=5 96=A #FDD:2 7:?2?46 :ED H2Cnk^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci %CF>A 42? 5@ E92E 3642FD6[ 2D 4@>>2?56C :? 49:67[ 96 42? 49@@D6 ?@E E@ =:DE6? E@ 2?J3@5J] x E9:?< 96 92D D@7E6?65 9:D A@D:E:@? 27E6C D6G6C2= D6?2E@CD 42>6 @FE 2?5 E@=5 9:> H92E 2 >:DE2<6 :E H@F=5 36]k^Am
kAmx E9:?< :E’D 23D@=FE6=J 4C2KJ 7@C FD E@ 96=A 7F?5 #FDD:2’D H2C 282:?DE &<C2:?6 3J 3FJ:?8 5:6D6=] %@@ >2?J A6@A=6 92G6 5:65]k^Am
kAmvF6CC:?8F6i z2C6?[ E92?<D 7@C ;@:?:?8 FD[ 2?5 8@@5 =F4< H:E9 E96 42>A2:8?]k^Am
kAm&>36C86Ci %92?< J@F] x 2AAC64:2E6 :E]k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.