UALR Political Science Teacher and Political Commentator Enters District 29 Contest

Ann Clemmer announced she wants to practice what she teaches.

Clemmer, a longtime faculty member at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has entered the race for District 29 State Legislature. That seat is being vacated by the term limited Janet Johnson.

Media outlets around the state frequently call upon Clemmer for her political expertise on state and national politics. Clemmer has been a regular panelist for AETN’s weekly program “Arkansas Week” and is a regular contributor for public radio (KLRE/KUAR) program “Arkansas Viewpoint.”

Other media groups have asked for Clemmer’s insights; she was the 2006 election night analyst for FOX 16 for both the primary and general election, and is a frequent consultant for that affiliate, as well as the other network affiliates in Little Rock.

Her political expertise and experience will be an asset in serving Saline County in the Legislature.

“With a term limited Legislature, experience becomes even more crucial. There isn’t much time for on the job training. I have the knowledge and experience to hit the ground running," Clemmer said. "I can go toe to toe with the big boys. I’ve been doing it all my life.”

Clemmer grew up on a farm in rural Mississippi County. Before coming to UALR, she owned and operated a small business and later ran an off-campus resident center for the what is now Arkansas Northeastern College. "Living in the Delta made me acutely aware of the need for Arkansas to have a competitive two party system—as that was certainly not the case in East Arkansas," Clemmer said. "It was a big shock when I came to Saline County in 1992 to see real two party competition.”

After years of volunteering, Clemmer ran as a Republican National Convention delegate in 1996 and won. She has attended five national conventions as a volunteer and observer.

She is president of the Saline County Republican Women.

Clemmer is passionate about education as the key to economic development for the state.

“We’ve got to offer a quality public education to the rest of the state. Education has been the source of economic growth for Saline County. We’ve also got to promote affordable opportunities for college and vocational education after high school," Clemmer said. "The cost of higher education is getting further out of reach for more Arkansas students. Middle class families are facing an inordinate struggle to make college a reality."

Next year, she will have three children in college.

"I’m pretty well informed about the costs. I’ve paid the bills. In the classroom, I witness first hand the difficulty students have doing college work while trying to hold down multiple jobs to pay for the experience,” Clemmer said.

Clemmer has raised three daughters in the Salem area of Saline County: Taylor Bennett, 22 a senior at the University of Central Arkansas, Lauren Bennett, 19, a sophomore at Henderson State University, and Caitlin Bennett, 17, a senior at Bryant High School. She is married to Jamie Clemmer (USAF, retired) who is employed by AT&T.