| Jane Kleeb | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 17, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Vince Powers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jane Fleming South Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Scott Kleeb (m. 2007) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Stetson University (BA) American University (MA) |
Jane Fleming Kleeb (/klɛb/ KLEB) is an American political executive and activist. She is the founder and president of Bold Alliance, Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and a board member of Our Revolution and Matriarch PAC.
Early life and education
Kleeb was born and raised in South Florida, where her mother was head of Broward County Right to Life. Kleeb earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University, where she studied religious and leadership studies. In 2001, she earned a Master of Arts in International Training and Education from American University.
Career
Kleeb began her career as Executive Director of AmeriCorps Tallahassee in 1996. She was Executive Director of Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders where she helped to develop a program that stresses activism as a tool for recovery, later she became the lead consultant on the 2006 documentary film Thin. Afterward she became the executive director of Young Democrats of America where she met her husband Scott Kleeb while he was campaigning for a congressional seat. She then worked as an MTV Street Teamer during her husband's 2008 campaign for U.S. Senate. In 2008, she worked as the Nebraska State Director for Change That Works, an effort to influence Senator Ben Nelson's vote on healthcare reform. In 2010, she was elected to the Hastings School Board.
Bold Nebraska
In 2010 Bold Nebraska was formed with the objective of pushing progressive ideas in rural Nebraska. It quickly became the primary opposition organization in the state against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
After witnessing the opposition in a United States Department of State hearing in York, Nebraska Kleeb began organizing locals. She garnered the support of local landowner Randy Thompson and Omaha lawyer David Domina. Kleeb and Thompson held meetings with landowners and locals who would be affected by the pipeline, either farms in the direct path or ranches that depend on the Ogallala Aquifer. In 2011 Thompson was used as the face of the movement with the slogan, "Stand With Randy." The campaign eventually led to the University of Nebraska cutting advertising ties with TransCanada. By the end of 2011 the pipeline had become a national issue.
In 2016 the organization fell under the newly-formed Bold Alliance of which Kleeb is the founder and president.
Nebraska Democratic Party
In June 2016 Kleeb was elected as Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party by 42 votes out of 410 cast defeating 2014 gubernatorial nominee Chuck Hassebrook, with Frank LaMere winning first vice-chair.
Our Revolution
On August 29, 2016, it was announced that Kleeb would serve as the treasurer and board member of Our Revolution, a progressive 501(c) organization created as an offshoot of the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign.
Personal life
She lives in Hastings, Nebraska with her husband Scott Kleeb and their three daughters.
References
- "An Unlikely Alliance Fights Big Oil". YouTube. September 22, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- "Meet Jane | Bold Alliance". Bold Alliance. August 8, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- "This Is the Way Movements Are Supposed to Work". Esquire. June 22, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- Star, Don Walton | Lincoln Journal. "Jane Kleeb helps lead new progressive movement". JournalStar.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- Chávez, Aída (November 3, 2019). "A Group of Progressive Women Just Launched a Working-Class Version of EMILY's List". The Intercept. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- Elbein, Saul (May 16, 2014). "Jane Kleeb vs. the Keystone Pipeline". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- Star, DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal (December 19, 2009). "Kleeb works to transform Nebraska". JournalStar.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IF/IF17/20130919/101321/HHRG-113-IF17-Bio-KleebJ-20130919.pdf
- Clark, Jessica (December 12, 2006). "The Skinny on Thin". In These Times. ISSN 0160-5992. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- "McCook Daily Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- "Street Team '08: Live-Blogging Your Husband's Nebraska Senate Run as Voters Rush to the Polls". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- Star, DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal. "Kleeb works to transform Nebraska". JournalStar.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- Star, the Lincoln Journal. "Jane Kleeb acknowledges campaign filing mistake". JournalStar.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/498762100/
- Star, KEVIN ABOUREZK / Lincoln Journal. "Huskers cut off deal with TransCanada". JournalStar.com. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- writer, Joe Duggan / World-Herald staff. "Bold Nebraska leader to run umbrella group, Bold Alliance, with chapters in three other states". Omaha.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- Star, Zach Pluhacek | Lincoln Journal. "In Democratic shakeup, Jane Kleeb elected state party chairman". JournalStar.com. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- "Our Revolution Announces Formation of Board". Our Revolution. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byVince Powers | Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party 2016–present |
Incumbent |