Realtor Furman files to run for State Rep in Dist 28

Tony Furman recently filed to run for the office of State Representative in District 28. His announcement follows:

I have called Saline County home since 2003. Since then, I have enjoyed getting to meet the wonderful people that make our county such a tremendous place to live. It is my desire to represent the 28th District with honesty and integrity.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Henderson State University. It is there, where my passion for public service began. As Vice President of the Sociology and Human Services Club, I was able to organize and participate in many community service projects that helped improve the lives of so many people.

While attending Henderson, my wife Lorin and I, were interns with the youth group at Hot Springs Baptist Church. We invested countless hours into the lives of so many young people and were blessed to see the Lord work in both the students’ and our lives. Little did we know, He was just beginning to use us.

Upon graduation, I accepted the role of Youth Pastor at my home church, Revolution (Benton), and my wife became an elementary teacher at Howard Perrin Elementary School. For four wonderful years, I was privileged to pour into the lives of students and watch them grow and mature in Christ. While serving as Youth Pastor, I commuted from my home in Bauxite to Vilonia to teach Middle School Social Studies and serve as an assistant football coach.

In 2016, mine and Lorin’s lives changed forever, my son James was born. The long commute to Vilonia and demanding hours during football season caused me to seek employment closer to home in order to be the father my young son needed. In this search, Lorin and I discovered Second Chance Youth Ranch, a group of foster homes serving children in Arkansas’ foster care system. As Houseparents at Second Chance Ranch, Lorin and I have seen first hand the desperate need for advocacy on behalf of children in foster care, all while loving them through hurt that most of us can’t even imagine.

After serving as Houseparents for three years, Lorin and I welcomed our second child, Nora, into the family. Watching James and Nora grow while serving the children at Second Chance Ranch has been a blessing that I cannot begin to put into words.

I am currently a realtor at Crye-Leike in Benton. Lorin and I are also part-time houseparents for Second Chance Ranch. I am passionate about our community and optimistic for our future.

To summarize who I am: I first and foremost am a follower of Jesus Christ. Secondly, I am a husband and father. And lastly, I am Constitutional Conservative. It would be my honor to serve you in the Arkansas House of Representatives.