Jim McClarin

Jim McClarin (born 1945 or 1946) is an American energy consultant, libertarian activist, and politician. A member of the Libertarian Party, he served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from December 1994 until February 1995. Prior to this, he was a prominent party organizer in California, serving as chairman of the Nevada County Libertarian Party and executive director of the Placer County Libertarian Party in the 1970s and 1980s.

Early life and education Jim McClarin was born in 1945 or 1946 in New York, and moved to Sacramento, California, in 1959. After receiving his associate's degree in math and science from American River College, he began studying zoology at Humboldt State University. McClarin was a "self-described college liberal on food stampsa war protester with long hair and a beard", and held civil libertarian beliefs. McClarin dropped out in 1968 to become a Bigfoot researcher. Recognized by The Sacramento Bee as "a leading Bigfoot expert", where he became a construction and energy consultant, giving seminars regarding energy-efficient underground homes. In 1979, he became the chairman of the Nevada County Libertarian Party. McClarin ran an atypical campaign, selling his car for additional campaign funds and hitchhiking throughout the large fourteen-county district. Early in his campaign, in protest of the resumption of Selective Service System registration, McClarin burned his draft card as a symbolic gesture. He won the Libertarian Party primary, receiving 495 votes. He also advocated for the deregulation of the energy market, arguing against the Price–Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act and a recently passed windfall tax bill on the oil industry. He also held non-interventionist positions on foreign policy, supporting the closure of American military bases in foreign countries and a transition towards an all volunteer military.

McClarin attempted to unite a broad coalition in his campaign, arguing that the left-wing would support his stances on foreign policy and alternative energy, while conservatives would support his advocacy for civil defense. He was excluded from debates hosted by the Nevada County Board of Realtors. McClarin placed third in the general election, receiving 17,419 votes (6.5%). The same year, McClarin became the executive director of the Placer County Libertarian Party. Considered to be an aggressive recruiter by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, McClarin recruited over 70 Libertarian candidates, with four candidates being elected. An early supporter of releasing political press releases on online news outlets, he was also the editor of the Libertarian Lines newsletter during this period.

McClarin lived in Hillsborough County's 33rd state house district, a multi-member constituency which elected three representatives and consisted of Nashua ward 8. In the 1994 election, the Republican Party only ran two candidates in the three-member district. Seeing an opportunity, McClarin announced his candidacy for the district. McClarin was elected in the general election, placing second with 1,033 votes.

McClarin's term began on December 7, 1994. He was a member of the Committee on Constitutional and Statutory Revision. During his brief tenure, McClarin co-sponsored three bills: one bill sought to "reaffirm state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution", another proposed a revision to the state constitution which would add a procedure to repeal all state statutes, while the last would have established a tax credit for parents who homeschooled their children.

On February 3, 1995, McClarin resigned from the state house, citing conflict between the legislative schedule and his business obligations. His resignation left Gorman as the only Libertarian in the state house. Following his resignation, McClarin remained active in party fundraising and organizing.