Kraske: Sanders Says No Statewide Run in 2016 February 25, 2015

KC Star:
Star

Mike Sanders, the three-term Jackson County executive, said today he will not seek statewide office next year.

Sanders, 48, was seen as one of the Democratic Party’s best prospects to run for one of four statewide offices that Democrats are vacating.

“I have no interest in seeking statewide office in 2016,” Sanders told The Buzz. “I’m clearly not saying `no’ forever. It’s `no’ for right now. It’s a very personal decision and driven by family considerations.”

Sanders and his wife have two boys, 11 and 8.

“They’re not going to be 11 and 8 forever,” he said. “These days go fast. For now, I’m aware of the fact that they still want Dad around. Dad’s still cool. The most fun I have professionally and privately is hanging out with my kids.”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article11154374.html#storylink=cpy

JPB Passes on Missouri AG Run January 30, 2015

Jackson. County ProsecutorJean Peters Baker says she is not going to run for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General.
Veteran County Executive Mike Sanders, a potential candidate for years, says he continues to consider it, according to the Kansas City Star.
Democrats Scott Sifton and Jake Zimmerman says they intend to run in 2016,
Republican Kurt Schaefer is also planning to run.
Attorney General Chris Koster is planning to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2016.

No Time Table for Commuter Rail In Sanders’ State of County Dpeech November 15, 2013

KC Star Rail:

As Kansas City lays tracks for its downtown streetcar line, a proposed Jackson County community rail system is still stuck at the station.

In his state of the county address Friday, County Executive Mike Sanders said he remains committed to the project, saying “our only enemy in this endeavor is inaction,” but gave no specifics in the speech.

In a meeting with reporters afterward, Sanders said the project remains without a timetable because of a need for more discussion with the railroads on whose tracks the commuter system would run.

He also put some distance between himself and his earlier proposal for a 1 cent sales tax to fund the system. He said only that should a deal be struck with the railroads, the county has the authority to ask voters for up to a penny increase in the county sales tax for transit.

But for now, he said, any discussion of a financing mechanism is premature.

Last winter, Sanders and the Mid-America Regional Council unveiled a $650 million plan to run commuter trains from Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit and others points in eastern Jackson County to downtown Kansas City.

Sanders Praises Fridkin’s Career July 18, 2013

A prominent Kansas City attorney and Democratic Party insider, Harold ‘ Fritz’ Fridkin has died. He was 86.
Fridkin was a fixture inside Jackson County and Missouri Democratic politics for decades.
“Harold was an outstanding public servant who cared deeply about this community. As an architect of the original Jackson County Charter, he helped to build the government that still serves our citizens today. Throughout his life and career, he remained committed to serving the best interests of the citizens and the values that they represented. His contributions to our community will be greatly missed,” said Jackson. County Executive Mike Sanders.
Fridkin was the chairman of the panel that created the current Jackson County Charter when the county government was reorganized in 1970

Report: Sanders Leaving MoDem Post July 10, 2013

The website ‘Tony’s Kansas City’,reports Missouri Democratic Chairman, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders will leave his post as one of the leaders of the state’s Democrats later this month.
Sanders has not been shy about telling Missouri Democrats he intends to leave.
It is also not clear Sanders will join in the fight to name his replacement.
Sanders has told insiders they can battle that outside themselves. Sanders expects Missouri Democrats will find a replacement for him by late summer.
Despite GOP dominance in the Missouri Legislature, Democrats won four out of five statewide offices at the polls in 2012
Sanders passed up a chance for a statewide office in 2012, saying he wanted to spend more time with his growing family, but took the volunteer position as Democratic Chair, which involved lots of fundraising.
2014 will be a relatively quiet year in Missouri politics, with the top race likely to be State Auditor Tom Schweich’s bid for re-election.
2016, however, is a presidential year, the Missouri Governor Mansion will be an open seat. Jay Nixon will be termed out. Several other statewide offices will also be on the ballot