Changes

Kleckley previously served on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body. He was  unopposed in a [[special election]] in 2005 to succeed Republican [[Dan Flavin]], a [[real estate]] agency owner who resigned early in his fifth term. Kleckley was  also reelected without opposition in 2007 and 2011 to his first and second full terms.<ref name=kleckley/>​

Kleckley previously served on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body. He was  unopposed in a [[special election]] in 2005 to succeed Republican [[Dan Flavin]], a [[real estate]] agency owner who resigned early in his fifth term. Kleckley was  also reelected without opposition in 2007 and 2011 to his first and second full terms.<ref name=kleckley/>​

==Legislative career==​

==Legislative career==

 

In 2007, Representative Kleckley received a 94 percent rating from the business interest group, the[Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.<ref name=kleckley/>​

In 2007, Representative Kleckley received a 94 percent rating from the business interest group, the[Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.<ref name=kleckley/>​

In 2008, Kleckley voted against a controversial legislative pay raise ultimately vetoed by Republican then [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/news/x222998556/Local-legislators-try-to-get-past-pay-raise-shadow|author=David Ryan Palmer|title=Local legislators try to get past pay raise shadow|date=June 29, 2008|publisher='Sulphur Southwest Daily News''|accessdate=July 8, 2011}}</ref>​

In 2008, Kleckley voted against a controversial legislative pay raise ultimately vetoed by Republican then [[Governor]] [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>David Ryan Palmer, "Local legislators try to get past pay raise shadow," ''Sulphur Southwest Daily News,'' accessed July 8, 2011; no longer on-line.</ref>​

On October 25, 2011, Governor Jindal endorsed Kleckley as his choice to succeed the term-limited [[Jim Tucker (Louisiana politician)|Jim Tucker]] as the state House Speaker.<ref>"Jindal to support Kleckley in Speaker race," WWL Radio, accessed=October 26, 2011; no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> Others who had announced for the position soon withdrew, including Republican Representatives Joel Robideaux of [[Lafayette]] and [[Erich Ponti]] and [[Hunter Greene]], both of [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=​http://theadvocate.com/news/politics/259879-63/greene-joins-candidates-for-speaker.html|author=Mark Ballard|title=Greene joins candidates for Speaker of La. House|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 19, 2011|accessdate=June 12, 2020}}</ref> The House of Representatives historically handily confirms the governor's choice as the Speaker, and Robideaux soon left the competition.​ However, Governor [[John Bel Edwards]], a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], could not obtain his Speaker of choice in 2016, as the post passed to Republican [[Taylor Barras]] of New Iberia.

On October 25, 2011, Governor Jindal endorsed Kleckley as his choice to succeed the term-limited [[Jim Tucker (Louisiana politician)|Jim Tucker]] as the state House Speaker.<ref>"Jindal to support Kleckley in Speaker race," WWL Radio, accessed=October 26, 2011; no longer accessible on-line}}</ref> Others who had announced for the position soon withdrew, including Republican Representatives Joel Robideaux of [[Lafayette]] and [[Erich Ponti]] and [[Hunter Greene]], both of [[Baton Rouge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=​http://theadvocate.com/news/politics/259879-63/greene-joins-candidates-for-speaker.html|author=Mark Ballard|title=Greene joins candidates for Speaker of La. House|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 19, 2011|accessdate=June 12, 2020}}</ref> The House of Representatives historically handily confirms the governor's choice as the Speaker, and Robideaux soon left the competition.​ However, Governor [[John Bel Edwards]], a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], could not obtain his Speaker of choice in 2016, as the post passed to Republican [[Taylor Barras]] of New Iberia.