In 1996, Republican State Senator Robert Harden declined to seek re-election,[2] and Clary ran to succeed him in the 7th District, which stretched from Panama City to Pensacola.[3]
In the Republican primary, he ran against former State Representative Lois Benson, former Bay County Commissioner Rick Seltzer, retired rocket scientist Mac McMillan, and talk show host Joe Webb.[4] Clary placed second in the primary with 30 percent behind Benson, who won 34 percent.[5] However, because Benson did not receive a majority of the vote, a runoff election was held between the two of them.[6]
In the runoff election, Clary narrowly defeated Benson, receiving 51 percent of the vote to her 49 percent.[7] He faced Democratic nominee Richard "Beef" Harden, an Air Force Reserve pilot.[8] Clary defeated Haddad in a landslide, winning 60 percent of the vote.[9]
Clary ran for re-election in 2000 and was unopposed.[10]
In 2002, following the reconfiguration of Florida's state legislative districts after the 2000 census, Clary ran for re-election in the 4th District, which included most of the territory he previously represented.[11] He was challenged in the Republican primary by State Representative Jerry Melvin.[12] He defeated Melvin for renomination, winning 55 percent of the vote,[13] and his only opponent in the general election, a write-in candidate, dropped out of the race, allowing him to win re-election unopposed.[14] He was selected as the President Pro Tempore of the Senate for the 2004–2006 session.[15]
Clary was unable to seek re-election in 2006, and was succeeded by Republican Don Gaetz.[16] He initially announced that he would run for Chief Financial Officer in 2006, but dropped out of the race on September 12, 2005, and endorsed State Senate President Tom Lee.[17]
