John C. Klimm

John C. Klimm
Portrait of John C. Klimm
City Manager of Aiken, South Carolina
In office 2015–2018
Preceded by	Richard Pearce
Succeeded by	Stuart Bedenbaugh
Town Administrator of Portsmouth, Rhode Island
In office 2012–2015
Preceded by	Robert G. Driscoll
Succeeded by	Richard A. Rainer Jr.
Town Manager of Barnstable, Massachusetts
In office 1999–2011
Preceded by	James Tinsley
Succeeded by	Thomas K. Lynch
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 2nd Barnstable District
In office 1991–1999
Preceded by	Peter B. Morin
Succeeded by	Demetrius Atsalis
Personal details
Born	(1955-11-05) November 5, 1955 Hyannis, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Boston College Bridgewater State University

John C. Klimm (born November 5, 1955) is an American municipal administrator and politician.

Early life

Klimm was born in Hyannis, Massachusetts. He graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics.

Political career

Klimm began his political career as a Barnstable Town Meeting member. In 1981, he was elected to the town's Board of Selectmen. At the age of 25, he was the youngest Selectmen in Barnstable's history. He remained on the Board until 1987, when he became Southeast Regional Director of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership. From 1991 to 1999, Klimm represented the 2nd Barnstable District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. After leaving the House, he worked for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Municipal administrator

From 1999 to 2011, Klimm served as Town Manager of Barnstable. During his tenure, Barnstable received an AAA bond rating and was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association the Smart Growth Award from the Environmental Protection Agency, and the All American City Award from the National Civic League.

On June 23, 2011, the Barnstable Town Council voted 6 to 5 to end Klimm's contract early. There was no reason given for ending Klimm's contract. The agreement stated that there was "no cause for discipline, suspension, removal or termination of the town manager". He signed the agreement, stating that he was "tired of the turmoil". Per the agreement, Klimm was placed on leave on September 30, 2011 and his contract expired on December 15, 2011. However, he would be allowed to receive his salary and remain on the town's health insurance through March 2013.

On January 25, 2012, the Portsmouth Town Council chose Klimm to serve as Portsmouth's next Town Administrator. He was selected from a pool of more than 65 applicants from 22 states and Canada. He took office on February 13. In 2014, Portsmouth became only the second Rhode Island community ever to receive a AAA Bond rating from Standard & Poor's. He did not seek a new contract in 2014 and later accepted the city manager's position in Aiken, South Carolina. He resigned on February 9, 2018.

In addition to his work as Town Administrator, Klimm has also worked as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School, where he taught courses in labor relations, state government management, managing public organizations, and administration of local government.