 In February 2010, Clarke won preselection against David Elliott, the chief executive of the Civil Contractors Federation to ensure he can potentially serve on the New South Wales Legislative Council until 1 March 2019.Clarke has spoken frequently on his political viewpoints stating that they naturally reflect the Liberal Party.He told "The Sydney Morning Herald" that "I work on the premise that most people have conservative values in the Liberal Party and that my values are in alignment with theirs."