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|footnotes=Though he was never elected to public office, Climer was a behind-the-scenes power in the [[Arkansas]] and national [[Republican Party|Republican]] parties.<br />[[Governor]] [[Winthrop Rockefeller]] appointed Climer as clerk of court for Pulaski County, but he vacated the post to run statewide for secretary of state in 1972.<br />In addition to the Congressional Institute, which he established in 1987, Climer founded the Public Governance Institute in 2001.​

|footnotes=Though he was never elected to public office, Climer was a behind-the-scenes power in the [[Arkansas]] and national [[Republican Party|Republican]] parties.<br />[[Governor]] [[Winthrop Rockefeller]] appointed Climer as clerk of court for Pulaski County, but he vacated the post to run statewide for secretary of state in 1972.<br />In addition to the Congressional Institute, which he established in 1987, Climer founded the Public Governance Institute in 2001.​

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'''Jerome Francis "Jerry" Climer''' (born April 25, 1941), is the founder of two [[Washington, D.C.]]-based think tanks,  The Congressional Institute and The Public Governance Institute, which were established in 1987 and 2001, respectively. His field of expertise is public administration, a branch of [[political science]] as well as public policy and issues development.​

'''Jerome Francis "Jerry" Climer''' (born April 25, 1941), is the founder of two [[Washington, D.C.]]-based think tanks,  The Congressional Institute and The Public Governance Institute, which were established in 1987 and 2001, respectively. His field of expertise is public administration, a branch of [[political science]], as well as public policy and issues development.​

==Background==

==Background==

==Race for secretary of state, 1972==

==Race for secretary of state, 1972==

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In 1972, Climer, at thirty-one, was the Republican candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State. He was defeated by the popular [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] Kelly Bryant. In his campaign, Climer alleged that Bryant's office was "full of political hacks", a situation which, he maintained, caused the legitimate employees to be "overworked". Climer further accused Bryant of showing favoritism for certain printing firms in the awarding of state contracts, failing to preserve vital state records, and mishandling petitions filed with the office. Climer had the endorsement of the ''Pine Bluff Commercial'' in Jefferson County] Bryant, however, was so confident of success, considering the Democratic hegemony of Arkansas, that he could ignore the upstart challenge from Climer.​

In 1972, Climer, at thirty-one, was the Republican candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State. He was defeated by the popular [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] Kelly Bryant. In his campaign, Climer alleged that Bryant's office was "full of political hacks," a situation which, he maintained, caused the legitimate employees to be "overworked". Climer further accused Bryant of showing favoritism for certain printing firms in the awarding of state contracts, failing to preserve vital state records, and mishandling petitions filed with the office. Climer had the endorsement of the ''Pine Bluff Commercial'' in Jefferson County. Bryant, however, was so confident of success, considering the Democratic hegemony of Arkansas, that he could ignore the upstart challenge from Climer.​

Climer toured the state in a motor home dubbed the "Climermobile." The candidate stopped at newspaper offices, radio stations, television stations, and other public forum s to make his name better known and present his proposals for the secretary of state's office.<ref name=eclectic>{{cite web|url=https://www.eclecticatbest.com/2012/10/jerry-climer-for-arkansas-secretary-of.html|title=Jerry Climer for Arkansas Secretary of State|date=October 12, 1972|author=Dan Durning|publisher=Eclecticatbest.com|accessdate=August 15, 2019}}</ref> His campaign assistant, Dan Durning, who met Climer at the University of Arkansas, reflected on the campaign forty years later in his blog, Eclecticatbest.com.

Climer toured the state in a motor home dubbed the "Climermobile." He stopped at newspaper offices, radio stations, television stations, and other public forum s to make his name better known and present his proposals for the secretary of state's office.<ref name=eclectic>{{cite web|url=https://www.eclecticatbest.com/2012/10/jerry-climer-for-arkansas-secretary-of.html|title=Jerry Climer for Arkansas Secretary of State|date=October 12, 1972|author=Dan Durning|publisher=Eclecticatbest.com|accessdate=August 15, 2019}}</ref> His campaign assistant, Dan Durning, who met Climer at the University of Arkansas, reflected on the campaign forty years later in his blog, Eclecticatbest.com.

As he expected, Bryant won with 366,079 votes (59.4 percent) to Climer's 250,532 (40.6 percent). Climer led in Pulaski County, where he had been clerk, with 62.4 percent, carried traditionally Republican Searcy County and received more than 48 percent in Washington County, which includes the University of Arkansas.<ref>Arkansas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 7, 1972.</ref>

As he expected, Bryant won with 366,079 votes (59.4 percent) to Climer's 250,532 (40.6 percent). Climer led in Pulaski County, where he had been clerk, with 62.4 percent, carried traditionally Republican Searcy County and received more than 48 percent in Washington County, which includes the University of Arkansas.<ref>Arkansas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 7, 1972.</ref>

==Policy and information expertise==

==Policy and information expertise==

After the 1972 Arkansas campaign, Climer worked as the chief legislative assistant to Congressman Tom Coleman of [[Missouri]] and was thereafter from 1979 to 1985 the executive assistant to Representative Ed Bethune. In 1984, Bethune ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated by the Democrat [[David Pryor]], despite [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s victory in Arkansas. From 1985 to 1990, Climer was employed on the leadership staff of U.S. Representative Guy Vander Jagt of [[Michigan]], then the head of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.<ref name=eclectic/>

After the 1972 Arkansas campaign, Climer worked as the chief legislative assistant to Congressman Tom Coleman of [[Missouri]] and was thereafter from 1979 to 1985 the executive assistant to Representative Ed Bethune. In 1984, Bethune ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated by the Democrat [[David Pryor]], despite [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s victory in Arkansas. From 1985 to 1990, Climer was employed on the leadership staff of U.S. Representative Guy Vander Jagt of [[Michigan]], then the head of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.<ref name=eclectic/>

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In the late 1970s, he began the study of the process of managing organizational change with Daryl Conner, the founder and chief executive officer of Conner Partners. The two co-authored ''Leading Public-Sector Change,'' a textbook in public administration.​ He is also the co-author of a book, ''Surviving Inside Congress,'' published in 2009, with a second edition in 2011.<ref name=eclectic/>

In the late 1970s, he began the study of the process of managing organizational change with Daryl Conner, the founder and chief executive officer of Conner Partners. The two co-authored ''Leading Public-Sector Change,'' a textbook in public administration.​ He is also the co-author of a book, ''Surviving Inside Congress,'' published in 2009, with a second edition in 2011.<ref name=eclectic/>

In 2007, Climer announced his retirement from the Congressional Institute. He was succeeded by Mark Strand, who had been the chief of staff to former U.S. Senator [[Jim Talent]], a [[Missouri]] Republican who was defeated for a full term on November 7, 2006. Climer continued as an advisor through 2008. Together with the chairman of the institute, Mike Johnson, and his successor, Mark Strand, Climer coauthored ''Surviving Inside Congress:'' A guide for prospective, new and not-so-new Congressional staff - and a guided tour for those who just want to learn how it all works.

In 2007, Climer announced his retirement from the Congressional Institute. He was succeeded by Mark Strand, who had been the chief of staff to former U.S. Senator [[Jim Talent]], a [[Missouri]] Republican who was defeated for a full term on November 7, 2006. Climer continued as an advisor through 2008. Together with the chairman of the institute, Mike Johnson, and his successor, Mark Strand, Climer coauthored ''Surviving Inside Congress:'' A guide for prospective, new and not-so-new Congressional staff - and a guided tour for those who just want to learn how it all works.

​After retiring and relocating in 2007 to Edenton in Chowan County in eastern [[North Carolina]], Climer established Policy Implementation Consultants, which offers consulting to public officials. He was appointed in 2009 by North Carolina Governor [[Bev Perdue]], a Democrat, to the Edenton Historical Commission, on which he served as chairman and as a member of the executive committee.​

After retiring and relocating in 2007 to Edenton in Chowan County in eastern [[North Carolina]],<ref name=eclectic/> Climer established Policy Implementation Consultants, which offers consulting services for public officials. He was appointed in 2009 by North Carolina Governor [[Bev Perdue]], a Democrat, to the Edenton Historical Commission, on which he served as chairman and as a member of the executive committee.​

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​*Election Statistics, 1972, Little Rock: Secretary of State​.<br>

*''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 1, 5, 1972.​<br>

*''Pine Bluff Commercial,'' November 4, 6, 1972​.<br>

 

*''Arkansas Outlook'' (Republican Party newsletter), January 1971, September 1972.​

​ Election Statistics, 1972, Little Rock: Secretary of State​.<br>

''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 1, 5, 1972.​<br>

''Pine Bluff Commercial,'' November 4, 6, 1972​.<br>

''Arkansas Outlook'' (Republican Party newsletter), January 1971, September 1972.​

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