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→Race for secretary of state, 1972
==Race for secretary of state, 1972==
==Race for secretary of state, 1972==
In 1972, at the age of thirty-one, Climer was the Republican candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State. He was defeated in the [[general election]] by the popular [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] Kelly Bryant (1908-1975), who did not finish the last term to which he was elected. 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, at the age of thirty-one, Climer was the Republican candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State. He was defeated in the [[general election]] by the popular [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] [[Kelly Bryant]], who did not finish the last term to which he was elected. 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." 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:
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: