This VHS footage captures a televised debate between Ron Clark and Roger Sanders for State Representative of District 62, which includes Grayson and Cooke Counties. Sherman’s KXII News 12 aired the debate in 1996, featuring Ellen Sawko as moderator and Matt Deringer as co-panelist. Incumbent Roger Sanders is a Sherman attorney, focusing on business litigation and small businesses. Challenger Ron Clark is also a Sherman attorney, focusing on school districts and small cities. Throughout the debate, Sanders and Clark discuss their positions on campaign finance reform, the prevention of juvenile crime, tort/judicial reform, education, and tax relief. However, the majority of the debate involves both candidates criticizing each other for campaign spending and contributions.
Ronald “Ron” Clark was born on January 5, 1953, in Caripito, Venezuela. He attended the University of Connecticut before joining the US Army in 1974, serving two years. Clark then moved to Texas to pursue a law degree. After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law in 1979, he became an assistant city attorney in the City Attorney’s Office of Abilene. Three years later, Clark went into private practice and settled in Sherman.
Clark began a political career in 1996 with a campaign for State Representative from the 62nd District. He won, eventually serving three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Clark was reelected for a fourth term, but was never sworn in. In January 2002, President George W. Bush nominated him for a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The United States Senate confirmed his lifetime appointment in October 2002. Clark became chief judge of the court in January 2015.
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