Rispone began working in construction while he was still in school. In 1989, he and his brother Jerry founded ISC Constructors; in 2017 he said that the company had annual revenues of $350 million.[2] In 2000 he criticized a tax increase approved by a state house committee stating that "this has the potential to wipe out all of our profits" due to his business operating on a small profit.[4] In 2003 he was elected the national chairman of the Associated Builders and Contractors.[2] The Louisiana Federation for Children, which advocates for school vouchers, named Rispone as its chairman in 2011. Governor Bobby Jindal appointed him to chair the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council.[1]
In October 2018, Rispone declared his candidacy in the 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial election as a Republican.[5] On October 12, 2019, Rispone finished in second place in the all-candidate election with 27% of the vote, behind incumbentJohn Bel Edwards, a Democrat, who received 47%, and ahead of Republican congressman Ralph Abraham, who received 24%. Rispone and Edwards advanced to the November 16 runoff election.[6] Edwards defeated Rispone in the runoff election.[7]
Personal life
Rispone and his first wife, Phyllis, were married for 35 years. She died in 2005 of cancer.[2] Rispone married his second wife, Linda, in 2007. He and Linda have seven children and 24 grandchildren as of September 2019.[1]
