County Executive

Mike Sanders Jackson County Executive CountyExecutive@jacksongov.org (816) 881-3333 415 East 12th Street, 2nd Floor Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Jackson County Executive

Jackson County voters overwhelmingly elected Mike Sanders their County Executive on Nov. 7, 2006, on a platform of positive change. His pledge to the people of Jackson County:

• Open, professional and efficient government.
• Safer and more livable communities.
• Fiscal responsibility and accountability to the taxpayers.

Education & Military Service

Mike Sanders was born and raised in the Kansas City, Missouri area. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University Of Missouri Kansas City, Mike was accepted to the Ohio State University School of Law.

As tensions grew in the Middle East in the early 1990’s, Mike left law school after his first semester in order to volunteer in the United States Army where he was promoted to the rank of 1^st Lieutenant.

Upon returning from service, Mike earned his Juris Doctorate from the Ohio State University School of Law in 1994 and was voted Best Advocate at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s National Jury Trial competition.

Prosecution

Mike began his law career at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in 1994. He served as a special prosecutor for the Jackson County Drug Task Force and was the lead attorney for D.A.R.T. (Drug Abatement Response Team), personally prosecuting drug dealers, armed robbers, rapists and murderers. Mike understands the importance of working with our community so that tough laws result in arrests, convictions and safer neighborhoods.

In 1995, Mike received the Rookie Prosecutor of the Year from the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, Mothers Against Drunk Driving awarded Mike with the Top Prosecutor of the Year for the state of Missouri as well as MADD’s Heartland Chapter Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

In 1997, Mike entered private practice where he continued to serve the residents of Jackson County as an appointed special counsel by the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.

Jackson County Prosecutor

Mike was first elected Jackson County Prosecutor in 2002, and re-elected in 2004. During his tenure as elected Prosecutor, he retooled and strengthened the county's jailing procedures, pioneered legislation and enlisted extensive DNA testing to convict perpetrators of recent crimes and dozens of previously unsolved "cold cases." Mike pursued the prosecution of several serial killers and streamlined spending and accountability measures in the county's COMBAT Community Anti-Drug Program.

“The Silence Is Killing Us”

When Kansas City’s murder rate hit record highs in 2005, hitting the inner city hardest, Sanders stepped up with a 5-Point Plan that meant:

1. more officers hunting fugitives,
2. more help for police detectives,
3. more county drug task force efforts fighting street sales,
4. a call for more jail space, and
5. an innovative public awareness campaign (Silence is Killing Us) to persuade witnesses to “break the silence” and help solve crimes.

Rising Above the Fear

A powerful barrier to solving these homicides was the fear in coming forward and the prevalent attitude of not “snitching”. In the fall of 2005, Prosecutor Sanders joined with citizens in the community to launch the “Silence is Killing Us” campaign. The idea put existing dollars and more creative strategies to work in creating safer communities.

The campaign focused on neighborhoods most affected by the homicides beginning with rallies in the Prospect and Troost Corridors.

• Goals were exceeded, reaching over 50,000 households with informational flyers and signs.
• Area businesses graciously donated a total of 35 billboards for the campaign.
• The initiative created a public service campaign for Television and Radio. In partnership with family members of homicide victims, 5 powerful yet poignant Public Service Announcements were aired.
• $30,000 in COMBAT funds went to the Kansas City Police Department to pay for 2 Sergeants and 16 Detectives working 791 additional overtime hours on homicide cases.
• Local and Federal law enforcement throughout Jackson County came forward to assist in serving outstanding active warrants.

Ordinary citizens in the community played a critical role in this effort. Without their selfless and even courageous involvement, none of it would be possible. The Jackson County Prosecutors Office continues to address long term issues as a result of this campaign and is examining viable options to address the shortage of space in the Jackson County Jail, and offering better treatment opportunities for offenders while in custody.

Memberships & Family

Mike is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Missouri Prosecutor’s Association, the American Legion, Missouri Association of Trial Attorney’s, American Trial Lawyer Association, and an active member of the Mizzou Alumni Association.

Mike and his wife, Georgia Cardwell Sanders, are the proud parents of their sons, Jonathan Michael and Patrick David. The family resides in Independence.