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{{Infobox person

{{Infobox person

| name=Jerome Francis "Jerry" Climer<br>

| name=Jerome Francis "Jerry" Climer<br>

An [[Arkansas]] native, Climer graduated from the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration. He came to Washington in 1967 to join the staff of newly elected [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]] of Arkansas' 3rd congressional district. Later, he was an assistant to the [[United States Secretary of Agriculture]]. From 1979 to 1985, he was chief of staff to then U.S. Representative Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., of White County, a former [[FBI]] agent, and only the second Arkansas Republican to have been elected to Congress since [[Reconstruction]].​

An [[Arkansas]] native, Climer graduated from the [[University of Arkansas]] at Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration. He came to Washington in 1967 to join the staff of newly elected [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]] of Arkansas' 3rd congressional district. Later, he was an assistant to the [[United States Secretary of Agriculture]]. From 1979 to 1985, he was chief of staff to then U.S. Representative Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., of White County, a former [[FBI]] agent, and only the second Arkansas Republican to have been elected to Congress since [[Reconstruction]].​

 

Late in 1970, [[Governor]] [[Winthrop Rockefeller]], shortly before he left the office, appointed Climer to fill a vacancy as the clerk of Pulaski County,  which includes the capital city of [[Little Rock]].​

Late in 1970, [[Governor]] [[Winthrop Rockefeller]], shortly before he left the office, appointed Climer to fill a vacancy as the clerk of Pulaski County,  which includes the capital city of [[Little Rock]].​

==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:

Climer gave it his best, and I was impressed with his campaign skills and his dedication to the task. Though I am moderately cynical by nature, Climer was not. He seemed driven by the conviction that he could do a much better job as secretary of state than the man he was running against (Kelly Bryant). Though the odds were against him winning the election, Climer spent time near the end the campaign discussing with me what steps he should take immediately after taking office to improve its operations.<br>

Climer gave it his best, and I was impressed with his campaign skills and his dedication to the task. Though I am moderately cynical by nature, Climer was not. He seemed driven by the conviction that he could do a much better job as secretary of state than the man he was running against (Kelly Bryant). Though the odds were against him winning the election, Climer spent time near the end the campaign discussing with me what steps he should take immediately after taking office to improve its operations.<br>

I am not sure how much of an asset I was to Climer. He was understandably reluctant to have me too visible when he was out shaking hands. In 1972, longish hair apparently put off small town voters. In Harrison, the chairman of the county party organization pointedly invited me to stay in the Climermobile when Jerry went to meet with party supporters to make a brief speech.</blockquote><ref name=eclectic/>

I am not sure how much of an asset I was to Climer. He was understandably reluctant to have me too visible when he was out shaking hands. In 1972, longish hair apparently put off small town voters. In Harrison, the chairman of the county party organization pointedly invited me to stay in the Climermobile when Jerry went to meet with party supporters to make a brief speech.<ref name=eclectic/>

As 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 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>

All the Arkansas Republican statewide candidates were defeated that year, including the gubernatorial nominee [[Len Blaylock]] of  Perry County, [[Ken Coon]] for lieutenant governor, Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., for attorney general, and the [[veterinarian]] [[Wayne Babbitt]] for the [[United States Senate]] against the incumbent [[John McClellan]]. Nevertheless, [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]] became the first member of his party since [[U.S. Grant]] to win the [[electoral vote]]s of traditionally Democratic Arkansas.​<ref name=eclectic/>

All the Arkansas Republican statewide candidates were defeated that year, including the gubernatorial nominee [[Len Blaylock]] of  Perry County, [[Ken Coon]] for lieutenant governor, Edwin Ruthvin Bethune, Jr., for attorney general, and the [[veterinarian]] [[Wayne Babbitt]] for the [[United States Senate]] against the incumbent [[John McClellan]]. Nevertheless, [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]] became the first member of his party since [[U.S. Grant]] to win the [[electoral vote]]s of traditionally Democratic Arkansas.​<ref name=eclectic/>

==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/>

 

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/>

===Two congressional institutes===

===Two congressional institutes===

 

The Congressional Institute, a [[nonprofit organization]] based in Alexandria, [[Virginia]], ranks among the top sponsors of congressional travel between January 2000 and June 2005, during which time it disbursed more than $830,000 on almost 1,000 trips. The group primarily funds travel for Republican lawmakers and their staff members. Its sister organization, the Public Governance Institute, holds bipartisan retreats primarily for House members; in one period, the institute found that Congress spent more than $135,000 on about 120 congressional trips.

The Congressional Institute, a [[nonprofit organization]] based in Alexandria, [[Virginia]], ranks among the top sponsors of congressional travel between January 2000 and June 2005, during which time it disbursed more than $830,000 on almost 1,000 trips. The group primarily funds travel for Republican lawmakers and their staff members. Its sister organization, the Public Governance Institute, holds bipartisan retreats primarily for House members; in one period, the institute found that Congress spent more than $135,000 on about 120 congressional trips.

Climer and his wife, Mary Ann Climer (born May 30, 1940), have a daughter, Greta (born 1969), son-in-law Kevin Kennedy, and granddaughters Lucy and Violet, who reside in King County, [[Washington]]. Their son, Matthew A. Climer (born March 31, 1971), lives in Amherst Virginia.​

Climer and his wife, Mary Ann Climer (born May 30, 1940), have a daughter, Greta (born 1969), son-in-law Kevin Kennedy, and granddaughters Lucy and Violet, who reside in King County, [[Washington]]. Their son, Matthew A. Climer (born March 31, 1971), lives in Amherst Virginia.​

 

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

===Other sources===

===Other sources===

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

​{{DEFAULTSORT:Climer, Jerry}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Climer, Jerry}}​

[[Category:Arkansas]]

[[Category:Arkansas]]

[[Category:District of Columbia]]

[[Category:District of Columbia]]