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→Legislative service, 1976 to 1999
Dimos was elected to the District 16 House seat in Ouachita Parish in 1975, the same year that Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] won the second of his four [[Governor|gubernatorial]] terms. Dimos became a reformer in the legislature and was hence tapped by Roemer as Speaker in 1988. While Roemer switched parties in 1991, Dimos remained a Democrat. In Louisiana, the governor has traditionally exercised such influence in the selection of the House speaker as to be tantamount to formal election by the representatives themselves. Even in 2020, Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] managed to get a [[Moderate Republican]], rather than a [[conservative]] for the Speaker's office.
Dimos was elected to the District 16 House seat in Ouachita Parish in 1975, the same year that Governor [[Edwin Edwards]] won the second of his four [[Governor|gubernatorial]] terms. Dimos became a reformer in the legislature and was hence tapped by Roemer as Speaker in 1988. While Roemer switched parties in 1991, Dimos remained a Democrat. In Louisiana, the governor has traditionally exercised such influence in the selection of the House speaker as to be tantamount to formal election by the representatives themselves. Even in 2020, Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] managed to get a [[Moderate Republican]], rather than a [[conservative]] for the Speaker's office.
According to Rom Gomez, who served with Dimos on the Commerce Committee, the Monroe Democrat was known for his "unswerving defense of the trial lawyers in the tort reform battles [but] he was a good 'business' vote on practically every other issue. He was also a long-time personal friend of Buddy Roemer."<ref>Ron Gomez, pp. 179, 187.</ref>
According to Rom Gomez, who served with Dimos on the Commerce Committee, the Monroe Democrat was known for his "unswerving defense of the trial lawyers in the tort reform battles [but] he was a good 'business' vote on practically every other issue. He was also a long-time personal friend of Buddy Roemer."<ref>Ron Gomez, pp. 179, 187.</ref>
Dimos was strongly pro-life in his legislative career. He opposed Roemer's veto of a bill, sponsored by Representative [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge, which would have outlawed most [[abortion]]s in Louisiana and presumably resulted in a legal challenge in federal courts.
Dimos was strongly pro-life in his legislative career. He opposed Roemer's veto of a bill, sponsored by Representative [[Woody Jenkins]] of Baton Rouge, which would have outlawed most [[abortion]]s in Louisiana and presumably resulted in a legal challenge in federal courts.
When Dimos became Speaker, [[Allen Bares]] of Lafayette, with Roemer's blessing, began a two-year stint as Senate President, although another candidate, Sydney B. Nelson of [[Shreveport]], had been seeking the position for months by arranging private meetings with colleagues in their Senate districts.<ref>Ron Gomez, p. 185.</ref>
When Dimos became Speaker, [[Allen Bares]] of Lafayette, with Roemer's blessing, began a two-year stint as Senate President, although another candidate, Sydney B. Nelson of [[Shreveport]], had been seeking the position for months by arranging private meetings with colleagues in their Senate districts.<ref>Ron Gomez, p. 185.</ref>