State Rep. Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, has the chance to make history in Southwest Louisiana.

He could become the first state lawmaker representing Calcasieu Parish to serve as Speaker of the House.

Kleckley — who has represented District 36 since 2005 — is running against five other lawmakers: Reps. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro; Erich Ponti, R-Baton Rouge; Jeff Arnold, D-New Orleans; Joel Robideaux, I-Lafayette and Hunter Greene, R-Baton Rouge. Current House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, is term-limited.

The full House usually elects its speaker at the beginning of the year. If he’s chosen, Kleckley said, it would mean a louder voice for the region.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with coastal restoration in Cameron Parish or the timber industry in Beauregard, it would be great for Southwest Louisiana,” he said.

Background

About two years ago, some lawmakers suggested Kleckley run for speaker, which he said didn’t interest him at the time. But continued encouragement from lawmakers persuaded him to consider running.

“A couple of friends that have been around the Capitol for many years thought I would be a good candidate,” he said. “They thought I had the personality for it.”

After much consideration, Kleckley said he decided in 2010 to pursue the position. He met first with lawmakers to make sure they would be comfortable with him being House speaker.

“I was not looking for commitments,” Kleckley said. “I was just having open dialogue. I also visited with the executive branch as a courtesy to give them an idea for what I was doing.”

Candidate differences

Kleckley said his time in the House under two different speakers — Tucker and Democrat Joe R. Salter — gives him the experience to handle the job effectively. He said his voting record is another quality that separates him from other candidates.

“I have been very independent,” Kleckley said. “I can make my own decisions based on what’s good for the state.”

If elected, Kleckley said, he would focus on such issues as improving education and infrastructure, fixing budget challenges and making Louisiana more business-friendly.

“I am going to work with the governor and president of the Senate,” he said. “It’s a team-building effort. If we want to have meaningful change, we need meaningful dialogue.”

When asked about his competition, Kleckley said his focus is solely on his race.

“They all bring something to the table,” he said. “But I’m not running against them.”

Fundraising efforts

Kleckley said he created a political action committee at the beginning of 2010 to give donations to candidates he supported.

The Advocate of Baton Rouge reported on Monday that Kleckley was one of three representatives running for speaker who created a PAC. Greene and Ponti were the other two.

Kleckley’s PAC was shown with just over $23,000 in contributions in 2010 and nearly $36,750 in 2011. The article reported that most of the funds raised were from “insurance interests.”

Kleckley, who heads the House Insurance Committee, said every contribution is legal, and that not all contributions come from the insurance industry. He said his voting record while chairman proves that not all his votes are for the insurance industry.

Kleckley pointed out some legislation he filed that shook up the industry.

He sponsored a bill in 2008 to set a yearly cap of $50,000 in insurance coverage for people needing prosthetic devices. Gov. Bobby Jindal signed it into law.

“The health industry fought me on this,” Kleckley said. “It wasn’t about the industry. It was what’s best for the citizens. That’s the way I’m going to vote.”

Support

Kleckley said he has spent most of his summer on the road meeting with lawmakers about their views on their recent terms in office. He said the support from local residents has been overwhelming.

“My phone has not stopped ringing,” Kleckley said. “There are people chomping at the bit to get out and do what they can to secure the speaker’s job.”