A former aide to Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang is back in the Senate, working for Dismang's successor.
Andy Goodman worked for Dismang from December 2015 through the end of last year before starting work as Gov. Asa Hutchinson's director of policy coordination and legislative outreach in January at an annual salary of $99,500.
Goodman departed the Republican governor's office on July 13 to start work as an aide to Senate President Pro Tempore-elect Jim Hendren, said Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis. Hendren will formally become the president pro tempore in January at the start of the 92nd General Assembly. Dismang is a Republican from Searcy. Hendren is a Republican from Sulphur Springs.
Goodman's salary is $99,500 a year as assistant to the Senate president pro tempore, according to the Arkansas Transparency website.
Hendren said Goodman has "great relationships" with senators in both the Republican and Democratic parties.
"I'm excited he is coming back and I think he'll do a great job," Hendren said.
Hendren, whose uncle is Hutchinson, said, "I had to take a little bit of a chewing on from the governor," but Hutchinson knows that Goodman's experience in the governor's office will help make the regular session successful. The session starts Jan. 14.
Goodman has other government experience. He worked in the land commissioner's office from July 2009-December 2015.
His replacement in the governor's office is former Arkansas State Medical Board Executive Director Karen Whatley, who started work Monday as director of legislative affairs. In that position, she makes an annual salary of $110,272, which is the same salary she made in her previous job, Davis said.
A Section on 08/10/2018