Sallie Clark is a candidate for mayor of Colorado Springs and is the only candidate for mayor with experience at all levels of government-local, state and national. She has a unique legacy of service to Colorado Springs, as a volunteer, elected and appointed official and successful small-business entrepreneur. As a military wife of over 42 years, Sallie personally understands the sacrifices of our military families and veterans and the importance of strong local military alliances.
Sallie Clark served as the State Director of the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development for Colorado. In her role as the executive State Director, she was responsible for seven offices throughout the state, administering over 45 grant and loan programs in affordable housing, business and economic development and community infrastructure, amounting to more than $1 billion during her tenure.
Previous to her position at USDA, she was elected to serve as an El Paso County Commissioner and represented District 3 and was elected by the Board of Commissioners to serve as Board Chair and Vice Chair. Through her long standing relationships developed with Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), Sallie Clark has represented all 3,069 counties in America. She was elected as President of NACo, and was the first Coloradan to have been elected as NACo president.
Sallie served as a Colorado Springs City Councilmember and Utilities Board Member prior to her election to the El Paso County Board of Commissioners.
Sallie Clark became a military wife in 1980 when she married Welling Clark, an officer in the United States Navy.
She is a long-time resident of Colorado and has family roots in Colorado; her father was born and raised in Pueblo and she spent every summer on her grandmother’s farm there. She loves Colorado, and continues to appreciate our open spaces, mountain scenery and especially the Pikes Peak area. She enjoys hobbies such as cooking, hiking, horseback riding, reading and gardening.
Sallie Clark is a small-business entrepreneur and has owned her own business for over 36 years. She worked in the health care field, prior to opening her own business. She is well-respected by her peers and her community as evidenced by her continued service on many non-profit and government committees. Read more about Sallie and check out her gallery page.
Sallie Clark has a longtime track record and experience working with non-profit agencies to establish financial stability and understanding of the respective organizations. She established a non-profit statewide business trade organization in 1986 within the Colorado hospitality and tourism industry. She has been devoted to service on non-profit boards and issue/initiative-related campaign committees. Sallie was selected as the Pikes Peak United Way Campaign Council Co-Chair for two consecutive years with a successful fundraising goal of $5 million each year. She has been a dedicated volunteer board and committee member of various organizations including Home Front Military Network (veteran and family support), CASA (child abuse prevention support), Court Care (low-income child care assistance), and served as the American Heart Association (AHA) Go Red for Women Campaign Co-Chair for two consecutive years, receiving recognition with the Woman of Distinction Award from the AHA for the most money raised nationally.
For Sallie, volunteer public service on boards of directors has been an ongoing personal calling, working for organizations that require public and private support and utilize board members, especially in fund raising roles. She enjoys overseeing governance, strategy, relations with sponsors and donors, event planning, and financial decision making to ensure successful non-profit governance. Sallie Clark, candidate for Colorado Springs mayor believes that we each have a responsibility to make our world a better place and non-profit advocacy is a key to personal and professional success.
– Paulette Greenberg – Community Leader, Philanthropist and Co-founder with her husband David, of The Greenberg Center for Learning and Tolerance
“In the many years that I’ve known Sallie, her heart for public service has been evident in so many ways; as a council member, commissioner, state director of a federal agency and as a volunteer for numerous nonprofit organizations. Sallie and I worked together on the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Educational Day for two consecutive years and received a national award for the Best Go Red for Women in the USA, exceeding fundraising goals. Sallie works tirelessly for our community to support those in need and for valuable local causes. I’m proud to support Sallie Clark to be our next Mayor of Colorado Springs. She always knows the right things to say and do.”
– Keith McCafferty, former Mayor of Ramah
“Sallie Clark has the experience Colorado Springs NEEDS. At local, state and national levels, Sallie Clark’s leadership skills have brought her to the campaign for Mayor of Colorado Springs. I served alongside Sallie Clark during her time as an El Paso County Commissioner when I served on the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) Board representing the Town of Ramah as Mayor, on the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Board, the initial EMS Board and as Chair of the Community Development Advisory Board. Sallie’s cool in a crunch; anyone remember Waldo Canyon and Black Forest Fires? She was there for us, fighting for recovery support from State and Federal agencies. Sallie Clark served the entire county with dignity and honor and she is the next Mayor Colorado Springs deserves and needs.”
Sallie’s experience at all levels of business and government from local to federal:
Sallie’s background, involvement and knowledge has enabled her to move important projects and initiatives forward as a leader, as a team member and as a supporter. These include:
A Safe Community-
Criminal Justice Reform and Pretrial Services advocacy
Fort Carson Buffer Zone collaboration with the Nature Conservancy and Economic Development Corporation to ensure long term sustainability
Waldo Canyon Fire Recovery:
-Waldo Canyon Fire Regional Recovery Group Co-Chair
-Emergency Watershed Protection Funding
-Fire Recovery Colorado Department of Transportation Projects
Pine Beetle Forest Mitigation Partnership with the U.S. Forest Service
Led the fight to save Fire Station 3 and improve public safety staffing, equipment and facilities to improve response times and service levels
Black Forest Fire Recovery and Community Insurance Assistance
Community Wildfire Protection Plans for El Paso County
Broadmoor Bluffs Drive Extension for emergency wildfire evacuation access
Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice
A Resilient Community-
Cheyenne Mountain State Park Acquisition and Development
Red Rock Canyon Open Space Preservation
Stratton Open Space Preservation
Cheyenne Mountain Shooting Complex
Bear Creek Regional Park Conservation Easement to preserve open space
Bear Creek Dog Park Improvements
Rainbow Falls Historic Recreation Area Acquisition and Preservation
Fountain Creek Watershed, Flood Control and Greenway District Legislation
Southern Delivery System (SDS) Water Principles Agreement with Pueblo County
A Thriving Community-
Support for Trails and Open Space, Public Safety and Transportation funding initiatives
Travel & Tourism Authority Board Member – Provided funding and established a presence for Colorado tourism (Colorado.com/1-800-COLORADO) following the elimination of the Colorado Tourism Board
Partnerships with rural housing nonprofits and USDA programs
Opportunity Zone and Affordable Housing forums in rural Colorado
State of Colorado Office of Regulatory Reform Advisory Board
A Healthy and Strong Community-
Not One More Child Coalition Initiative to prevent child abuse
National Opioid Task Force established with National Association of Counties and National League of Cities
Social Detox Center for El Paso County
Safe and Secure Counties Presidential Initiative – National Association of Counties (NACo)
A Planned Community-
Envision Highway 24 West
Cimarron Bridge Reconstruction
I25 Widening Project (The Gap) from Monument to Castle Rock
I25 Widening and Interchange Improvements Including Bijou, Fillmore, Academy and north to Monument
Martin Luther King Bypass to the Colorado Springs Airport
I25 and Cimarron Interchange
Gate 19 Interchange at Fort Carson
Westside Avenue Action Plan (WAAP) W. Colorado Ave to Manitou Springs
PAID FOR BY CITIZENS FOR SALLIE CLARK, MAYOR
