Clio Lloyd
Encyclopedia
Clio Lloyd was the 27th Chief Clerk of the California Assembly and a Santa Barbara newspaper publisher.
Lloyd was born in Mercer County, Illinois. He was educated in public schools and private college. Mr. Lloyd took up teaching as a profession for 8 years, until he went into the newspaper publishing business and real estate in Santa Barbara County, California. In 1893, he was chosen as a Commissioner from Southern California to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In December 1905 he was elected to a four-year term as a member of the Santa Barbara Board of Education. In the early 1900s, he was publisher of the Santa Barbara Daily Press. He was also Director of the Press Publishing Company in Santa Barbara.
Lloyd served as clerk when party patronage was still widely practiced in California government. During his terms as clerk, Lloyd served under four Republican Speakers of the Assembly: Arthur G. Fisk
, Frank C. Prescott, Robert L. Beardslee Sr., and Philip A. Stanton. Prior to the professionalization of the Chief Clerk's office by longtime Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus
, clerks were often majority party loyalists. To this end, Lloyd was active in Southern California Republican politics. He was Vice President of the League of Southern California Republican Clubs and Secretary of the Santa Barbara County Republican Central Committee. He was a member of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows
and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Served as Chief Clerk from 1901-1910—at the time, this was the longest anyone had served as Chief Clerk. Clio Lloyd was the first person in California history to serve more than two consecutive terms as Chief Clerk. When Governor James Gillett
called the Legislature into a brief Second Special Session in October 1910, Clio Lloyd did not run for re-election.
In California, the Chief Clerk is now a nonpartisan officer of the Legislature, responsible for advising the presiding officer on parliamentary rulings, guiding legislators on legislative procedures, and overseeing the records and votes of the house.
Lloyd was born in Mercer County, Illinois. He was educated in public schools and private college. Mr. Lloyd took up teaching as a profession for 8 years, until he went into the newspaper publishing business and real estate in Santa Barbara County, California. In 1893, he was chosen as a Commissioner from Southern California to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In December 1905 he was elected to a four-year term as a member of the Santa Barbara Board of Education. In the early 1900s, he was publisher of the Santa Barbara Daily Press. He was also Director of the Press Publishing Company in Santa Barbara.
Lloyd served as clerk when party patronage was still widely practiced in California government. During his terms as clerk, Lloyd served under four Republican Speakers of the Assembly: Arthur G. Fisk
Arthur G. Fisk
Arthur G. Fisk , was a U.S. Republican politician and at age 35 was elected as Speaker of the California State Assembly. He also served as Postmaster of San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake, and U.S. Commissioner for Northern California in his later years...
, Frank C. Prescott, Robert L. Beardslee Sr., and Philip A. Stanton. Prior to the professionalization of the Chief Clerk's office by longtime Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus
Arthur Ohnimus
Arthur Allen Ohnimus was the longest serving Assembly Chief Clerk in California history . He was also the first Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly Rules Committee . Ohnimus served under 8 Republican and 4 Democratic Speakers of the Assembly during his 37 cumulative years as Chief Clerk...
, clerks were often majority party loyalists. To this end, Lloyd was active in Southern California Republican politics. He was Vice President of the League of Southern California Republican Clubs and Secretary of the Santa Barbara County Republican Central Committee. He was a member of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows is a name broadly referring to any of a large number of friendly societies, fraternal and service organizations and/or Lodges.-Societies using the name "Odd Fellows" or variations:...
and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Served as Chief Clerk from 1901-1910—at the time, this was the longest anyone had served as Chief Clerk. Clio Lloyd was the first person in California history to serve more than two consecutive terms as Chief Clerk. When Governor James Gillett
James Gillett
James Norris Gillett was an American lawyer and politician. A Republican involved in federal and state politics, Gillett was elected both a member of the U.S...
called the Legislature into a brief Second Special Session in October 1910, Clio Lloyd did not run for re-election.
In California, the Chief Clerk is now a nonpartisan officer of the Legislature, responsible for advising the presiding officer on parliamentary rulings, guiding legislators on legislative procedures, and overseeing the records and votes of the house.
Sources
- The Government of the State of California 1903," Published by Fred Coleman, Sacramento: 1903.
- Journals of the Assembly, California Legislature, 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910 (1st Extraordinary Session). View Assembly Journal archives online at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk -click on "Assembly Journals"
- California's Legislature (2006 edition). E. Dotson Wilson, California State Assembly.
- California Blue Book, 1903 Office of State Printing: Sacramento, CA.