Chuck Kleckley

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Chuck Kleckley

| office = 67th Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives

| term_start = January 9, 2012

| term_end = January 11, 2016

| predecessor = Jim Tucker

| successor = Taylor Barras

| office1 = Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 36th district

| term_start1 = February 16, 2005

| term_end1 = January 11, 2016

| predecessor1 = Dan Flavin

| successor1 = Mark Abraham

| birth_name = Charles Edward Kleckley

| birth_date = December 1959

| birth_place = Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.

| party = Republican

| alma_mater = McNeese State University (BS)

| occupation = Politician, Businessman

| spouse =

| children =

}}

Charles "Chuck" Kleckley is an American politician who represented District 36 of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2005 to 2016 and served as the 67th Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2012 to 2016.{{Cite news|last=Daigle|first=Adam|date=2019-11-04|title=Lafayette-based The Picard Group hires former House speaker Chuck Kleckley|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/lafayette-based-the-picard-group-hires-former-house-speaker-chuck-kleckley/article_830bf2d0-ff18-11e9-bcdd-33d217b2390b.html|access-date=2024-02-18|work=The Advocate|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Bridges|first=Tyler|date=2013-04-05|title=Once called governor's 'lap dog,' House speaker yanks on his leash|url=https://thelensnola.org/2013/04/05/once-called-governors-lap-dog-house-speaker-kleckley-yanks-free-of-jindals-leash/|access-date=2024-02-18|work=The Lens NOLA|language=en-US}}

Kleckley was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and graduated from LaGrange High School.{{Cite web |title=Chuck Kleckley |url=https://www.thepicardgroup.com/chuck-kleckley |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Picard Group |language=en}} He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from McNeese State University in 1993. In recognition of his achievements and contributions, McNeese State University conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the 160th commencement ceremony.{{Cite news |date=2023-05-15 |title=Chuck Kleckley Receives Honorary Doctorate From McNeese |url=https://www.mcneese.edu/news/chuck-kleckley-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-mcneese/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=McNeese State University |language=en-US}}

Prior to his election to the Louisiana House of Representatives, Kleckley served on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury from 2000 to 2005 and was its president in 2003.{{cite web |title=Charles Kleckley |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Charles_Kleckley |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=May 17, 2024}} During his tenure in the House, he chaired the House Insurance Committee and was a member of numerous commissions, councils, and committees including the State Bond Commission, Revenue Estimating Conference, Joint Committee on the Budget, and Joint Capital Outlay and House Executive Committees.{{Cite web |title=McNeese confers honorary doctorate on former Speaker of the House Kleckley |url=https://www.americanpress.com/2012/04/09/former-house-speakers-share-experiences-views/ |access-date=May 17, 2024 |website=American Press|date=9 April 2012 }}

Kleckley was a strong supporter of road improvements in Southwest Louisiana and worked to enhance the transportation system. He advocated for higher education, improved Louisiana’s insurance and business climate, and protected healthcare funding. He also led efforts to secure state funding for a new Health and Human Performance Education Complex at McNeese State University that opened in 2018.{{cite web |title=McNeese confers honorary doctorate on former Speaker of the House Kleckley |url=https://www.americanpress.com/2023/05/12/mcneese-confers-honorary-doctorate-on-former-speaker-of-the-house-kleckley/ |website=American Press |date=12 May 2023 |access-date=May 17, 2024}}

In 2012, there was an attempt to recall Kleckley from office due to his support for public education reforms. The effort failed to collect enough signatures.{{Cite news |date=2012-04-16 |title=Speaker Kleckley responds to teacher recall efforts |url=https://www.kplctv.com/story/17457445/kleckley-responds-to-teacher-recall-efforts |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=KPLCTV |language=en}} He then asked that the Ethics Board not impose fines on the teachers for their attempt.{{Cite news |last=bureau |first=Capitol news |date=2012-11-15 |title=Kleckley: Waive fine on teachers in recall |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/kleckley-waive-fine-on-teachers-in-recall/article_2b1c9891-88b1-526b-8d6b-41042161f394.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=The Advocate |language=en}}