Rep. Clemmer Joins Pursuit Of Second District Congressional Seat

Make that three in the GOP primary for Arkansas’ Second Congressional District.

On Wednesday, State Rep. Ann Clemmer (R-Bryant) announced she will file the necessary paperwork to become a candidate for Arkansas’ Second District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Cong. Tim Griffin (R) is not seeking a third term. Republican Little Rock banker French Hill and retired Army Col. Conrad Reynolds have already announced for the GOP nomination. Democrat Pat Hays, former North Little Rock mayor, announced he would seek the seat last week.

Clemmer said she is running because “the challenges we face in Arkansas and across the country are too serious for me to sit back and hope that others will fix them. A stagnant economy, a growing mountain of debt, and a disastrous health care law are all hurting the people of Arkansas today and threatening the futures of our children and grandchildren.”

Clemmer is term-limited in the Arkansas House of Representatives and was expected to file for the State Senate before announcing today’s entry in the Congressional race.

She is the Chair of the Higher Education Committee and the Vice Chair of the Education Committee. She also serves on the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs, Rules, and Legislative Council Committees.

“For years, politicians in Washington D.C. have allowed partisan gridlock to get in the way of results,” Clemmer said. “When I talk to voters from all over the district, from teachers in Van Buren County to small business owners in Conway, they want to send someone to Congress who will focus on creating good-paying jobs in the district and bringing common sense solutions to D.C.”

Clemmer has more than 25 years experience in the education field. She taught for a number of years at Arkansas Northeastern College (then Mississippi County Community College) before accepting a faculty position in the Political Science Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she teaches classes on American Politics.

She has lived in Saline County since 1992. She and her husband, Jamie, have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and a granddaughter.