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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.
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.
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>
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/>
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.
Climer is a policy and information expert and is enlisted by governmental, media, and private-sector organizations. He frequently briefs legislators and public-policy researchers on policy options, consensus building, and leadership.
Climer is a policy and information expert and is enlisted by governmental, media, and private-sector organizations. He frequently briefs legislators and public-policy researchers on policy options, consensus building, and leadership.
After retiring and relocating in 2007 to Edenton in Chowan County in eastern [[North Carolina]], Climer established Policy Implementation Consultants and provides consulting services 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]], Climer established Policy Implementation Consultants and provides consulting services 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.
===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, spending more than $830,000 on almost 1,000 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.
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 organizes at least one retreat for congressional Republican leaders each year, and another for all Senate and House Republicans at places such as the Greenbrier Resort in [[West Virginia]]. After 2001, [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] was the usual keynote speaker for another retreat called "Congress for Tomorrow." By bringing members together to discuss policy and governance issues, the group helps lawmakers to do their work more effectively, said Climer. But the institute does not specifically advocate potential solutions to public problems.
The Congressional Institute organizes at least one retreat for congressional Republican leaders each year, and another for all Senate and House Republicans at places such as the Greenbrier Resort in [[West Virginia]]. After 2001, [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] was the usual keynote speaker for another retreat called "Congress for Tomorrow." By bringing members together to discuss policy and governance issues, the group helps lawmakers to do their work more effectively, said Climer. But the institute does not specifically advocate potential solutions to public problems.<ref name=eclectic/>
The institute is financed by such [[corporation]]s as [[Lockheed Martin]], Merck, [[Verizon]], and Altria, each of which contributes $25,000 annually. Thirteen of the fifteen members of the board of directors are registered D.C. [[lobbyist]]s. Board members include Gary Andres of Dutko Worldwide, one of Washington's largest lobbying firms; Barbara Morris, a lobbyist for Verizon; and Daniel Meyer of the Kenneth Duberstein Group, which has among its lobbying clients [[General Motors]], Time Warner, and [[Comcast]], all of which have been donors to the Congressional Institute.
The institute is financed by such [[corporation]]s as [[Lockheed Martin]], Merck, [[Verizon]], and Altria, each of which contributes $25,000 annually. Thirteen of the fifteen members of the board of directors are registered D.C. [[lobbyist]]s. Board members include Gary Andres of Dutko Worldwide, one of Washington's largest lobbying firms; Barbara Morris, a lobbyist for Verizon; and Daniel Meyer of the Kenneth Duberstein Group, which has among its lobbying clients [[General Motors]], Time Warner, and [[Comcast]], all of which have been donors to the Congressional Institute.
At the Public Governance Institute, Climer was named by [[Trent Lott]], then the majority leader of the United States Senate to a 21-member federal government panel, "Helping Enhance the Livelihood of People," known by the acronym HELP. The Commission focused on developing strategies to maximize the efficiency of United States foreign aid and filed its report with the President and the Congress in December 2007.
At the Public Governance Institute, Climer was named by [[Trent Lott]], then the majority leader of the United States Senate to a 21-member federal government panel, "Helping Enhance the Livelihood of People," known by the acronym HELP. The Commission focused on developing strategies to maximize the efficiency of United States foreign aid and filed its report with the President and the Congress in December 2007.<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.