Longtime Galveston County commissioner dies: 'Ken Clark’s passion for local politics was well known'

Ken Clark, the longest-serving member of the Galveston County Commissioners Court, died on Sunday (May 8) at the age of 58, according to his reelection campaign's Facebook page. 

A lengthy post said that Clark, who had served on the court since the late 1990s and was considered a stalwart in the county's conservative political movement, died in Houston surrounded by many loved ones.

"With heavy hearts, we are informing you that Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2022 at Houston Methodist Hospital as a result of multiple recent, complicating health issues," the page's handlers wrote. "At the time of his death, Ken was with a large number of family members who were by his side."

According to the post, Clark was first elected commissioner in 1998 to what was then a predominantly Democratic body.

Clark, whose mantra was "working for you," had a front-row seat to the court's – and the county's – shift toward the right as the representative for Galveston County Precinct 4, which included his native League City.

"His tenure saw the county’s shift in political alignment and its concurrent population growth," the post said. "He was an advocate of fiscally responsible government, which led to numerous successive county tax cuts and one of the few AAA county bond ratings in the State of Texas. Clark’s passion for local politics was well known, and he was actively involved in numerous community and political organizations throughout the region."

Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that Clark was an advocate for better transportation and mobility in Galveston County.

After many years as a member of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's (H-GAC) Transportation Policy Council, Clark assumed the chairmanship of the group in the latter part of last decade.

League City Mayor Pat Hallisey called the Wisconsin-born Clark's passing "a sad day."

“Clark leaves behind a legacy of constantly working and striving to improve our county and our community, particularly in the area of transportation and mobility,” Hallisey told KPRC.

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, who was elected to the county's top post in 2010, remembered Clark as a "good friend and mentor," the station reported.

"It is a tremendous loss to the court and the county," Henry, a Republican, said, per KPRC. "We extend our sympathy and prayers to his family."

Clark leaves behind his wife of 34 years and their seven children.