Sponsored: Thank You, Clarke Sanders: A Record of Service to Salina and Saline County

By Jay Vanier,

As Representative Clarke Sanders prepares to leave the Kansas House, Salina and SalineCounty have good reason to recognize his years of public service and the breadth of his votingrecord.

While serving as a conservative talk show host on KSAL Radio, Clarke was first elected in 2020and has represented House District 69 since January 2021. A Republican convention was held Thursday, September 10, to select the party’s replacement nominee for the Novemberelection.

One of Clarke’s most consequential votes for Salina came on House Bill 2466, the 2026economic development package that extended Kansas’ STAR Bond Financing Act through July1, 2031 and made other changes to the program. The final conference report passed the House78–44 and the Senate 30–10. Sanders voted yes. Of the three state representatives and statesenator representing Salina and Saline County, he was the only one of the four to support thefinal package.

That mattered locally and Clarke knew it. STAR Bonds have been used as part of Salina’sdowntown redevelopment, helping make possible the type of public-private investment that hasbrought new activity, visitors and private development to our city. Had the effort to extend theprogram failed, the STAR Bond authority would have been allowed to expire. Sanders’ votehelped keep that economic development option available to Salina and other Kansascommunities through 2031.

His support for development tools was not limited to STAR Bonds. Clarke also voted to createan alternative financing mechanism for municipal projects eligible for Tax Increment Financing.TIF is another tool Salina has used to encourage redevelopment and private investment,including development along South Ninth Street.

Clarke’s legislative record extended well beyond economic development. In 2026, he voted for afirearms law and civil liability protections for federal firearms licensees. He also supported theSAVE Kansas Act dealing with voter registration verification and use of the federal SAVEdatabase.

On tax and health care policy, Clark supported an income tax deduction for qualifying health-care-sharing ministry expenses. He also supported a constitutional change addressing property-tax valuations and allowing the Legislature to provide valuation protections for qualifying seniorhomeowners.

Those votes illustrate a legislative record that touched economic development, property taxes,elections, firearms, health care and other issues important to Kansans. People will naturallyagree or disagree with individual votes, but Clarke consistently participated in the difficultdecisions that come with representing a community in Topeka.

After more than five years in the Kansas House, Clarke intends to complete his current term ending in January.Whatever issue brought a constituent to his door, his job was to represent Salina and SalineCounty in Topeka, and he devoted a significant chapter of his life to doing so.

As House District 69 prepares for new representation, the issues facing Salina will requiresomeone with a practical understanding of how state policy affects the community. That includesfamiliarity with the economic development tools Salina uses to compete for jobs and investment,as well as Kansas property tax policy, election law and administration, education, infrastructure,workforce challenges and the regulatory environment facing local businesses.

Clarke’s years in the Legislature provide an opportunity to recognize the importance ofexperienced, community-focused representation.

Thank you, Clarke Sanders, for your service to Salina, Saline County and the State of Kansas.Your record should be remembered not for any single vote, but for the years you were willing tostep forward, serve your community and accept the responsibility that comes with public office.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Jay Vanier and with the gratitude of so many throughout Salina and Saline County, Kansas