Changes

==Political activities==

==Political activities==

Keet was elected to the state House from District 58 in 1988.  In 1990, he ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] to succeed [[Tommy F. Robinson]], who ran for Governor, but he lost the general election to former [[U.S. Representative]] [[Ray Thornton]].   He made a comeback when he won his Senate position in 1992 from the newly organized District 15 in [[Pulaski County, Arkansas|Pulaski County]], having defeated the Democrat John Pagan in a tough campaign.<ref name=tolbert>{{cite web|url=http://arkansasnews.com/2010/03/07/the-audacity-of-jim-keet/|title=Jason Tolbert, "The Audacity of Jim Keet," March 7, 2010|publisher=arkansasnews.com|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

Keet was elected to the state House from District 58 in 1988.  In 1990, he ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] to succeed Tommy F. Robinson, who ran for Governor, but he lost the general election to former [[U.S. Representative]] Ray Thornton. He made a comeback when he won his Senate position in 1992 from the newly organized District 15 in Pulaski County, having defeated the Democrat John Pagan in a tough campaign.<ref name=tolbert>{{cite web|url=http://arkansasnews.com/2010/03/07/the-audacity-of-jim-keet/|title=Jason Tolbert, "The Audacity of Jim Keet," March 7, 2010|publisher=arkansasnews.com|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

As a legislator, Keet co-sponsored the "three-strikes-and-you're-out" violent offender law and worked to pass legislation to raise the state's literacy rate.<ref name=keet/>

As a legislator, Keet co-sponsored the "three-strikes-and-you're-out" violent offender law and worked to pass legislation to raise the state's literacy rate.<ref name=keet/>

|title="12 {sic} dead in tourist boat accident at Hot Springs,"|date=May 2, 1999|publisher=''Northwest Arkansas Times'': rrbi.com|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

|title="12 {sic} dead in tourist boat accident at Hot Springs,"|date=May 2, 1999|publisher=''Northwest Arkansas Times'': rrbi.com|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

Before entering the gubernatorial race, Keet had planned to seek the position of lieutenant governor, which incumbent Democrat Bill Halter vacated in his bid to unseat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Blanche Lincoln]]. Keet left his state House after fewer than two years of service to run unsuccessfully in 1990 against the Democrat [[Ray Thornton]] for the [[United States House of Representatives]] seat vacated by Democrat-turned-Republican [[Tommy F. Robinson]], who instead made an ill-fated gubernatorial bid, having lost the primary to [[Sheffield Nelson]], who in turn was defeated by [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasgop.org/index.cfm?p=Blog&ContentRecord_id=21a73a10-f552-40b6-99ec-be342eaf514e&ContentType_id=f6f7c5c6-e3e7-4305-8eaa-a6a2dcf251a3&Group_id=04ed66ba-5652-49c7-9b1f-e77bde170609&MonthDisplay=4&YearDisplay=2010|title=Republican Jim Keet to Form Exploratory Committee for Lieutenant Governor Campaign|publisher=arkansasgop.org|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

Before entering the gubernatorial race, Keet had planned to seek the position of lieutenant governor, which incumbent Democrat Bill Halter vacated in his bid to unseat [[U.S. Senator]] [[Blanche Lincoln]]. Keet left his state House after fewer than two years of service to run unsuccessfully in 1990 against the Democrat [[Ray Thornton]] for the [[United States House of Representatives]] seat vacated by Democrat-turned-Republican Tommy F. Robinson, who instead made an ill-fated gubernatorial bid, having lost the primary to [[Sheffield Nelson]], who in turn was defeated by [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasgop.org/index.cfm?p=Blog&ContentRecord_id=21a73a10-f552-40b6-99ec-be342eaf514e&ContentType_id=f6f7c5c6-e3e7-4305-8eaa-a6a2dcf251a3&Group_id=04ed66ba-5652-49c7-9b1f-e77bde170609&MonthDisplay=4&YearDisplay=2010|title=Republican Jim Keet to Form Exploratory Committee for Lieutenant Governor Campaign|publisher=arkansasgop.org|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

Prior to 2002, Keet managed the Little Rock office of then U.S. Senator [[Tim Hutchinson]], who was unseated that year by the Democrat [[Mark Pryor]], the son of former Senator and Governor [[David Pryor]]. Keet left Arkansas in 2002 to manage a troubled business, successfully turning around the failing company, but returned to Arkansas in 2008.<ref name=brummett>{{cite web|url=http://arkansasnews.com/2010/02/27/jim-keet-returns-for-governor/|author=John Brummett|title= "Jim Keet returns . . . for governor?"|date=February 27, 2010|publisher=arkansasnews.com|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>

Prior to 2002, Keet managed the Little Rock office of then U.S. Senator [[Tim Hutchinson]], who was unseated that year by the Democrat [[Mark Pryor]], the son of former Senator and Governor [[David Pryor]]. Keet left Arkansas in 2002 to manage a troubled business, successfully turning around the failing company, but returned to Arkansas in 2008.<ref name=brummett>{{cite web|url=http://arkansasnews.com/2010/02/27/jim-keet-returns-for-governor/|author=John Brummett|title= "Jim Keet returns . . . for governor?"|date=February 27, 2010|publisher=arkansasnews.com|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref>