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Texas Association of Builders
January/February 2016
Speaking Out
The benefit of a competitive district from the
voters' perspective is that I talk to the entire
universe of voters, not just those voting in the
primary. It's no secret that formany districts, the
real election is in the Republican or Democrat
primary. The dynamics of HD 107 require me
to reach out to Republicans, Independents,
and even crossover Democrats, and it makes
me a better candidate and representative in
the process. I hear input from all sides and my
record as a member reflects that.
The Texas housing economy is leading
the nation in the areas of production,
affordability and job creation. A large
measure of this success is due to the
economic well-being of the state. What do
you think needs to be done (or not done) at
the state level to ensure that Texas sustains
its top ranked status in the future?
Texas has weathered the recession better than
any other state not through a miracle but
through smart planning, sensible regulations,
and low taxation. For us to continue our
success will require dedication to the free
market, small government principles that
have kept us strong. As your question
implies, for us to maintain our top status
requires some inaction as well as action. State
governments have to resist the urge to do too
much. Thus far, Texas has been disciplined on
that front and I hope to keep it that way.
Is there anything else you would like to share
with the readers of Texas Builder?
I would just like to take this opportunity to
thank your industry for all that you do to
make Texas great. We take lots of pride in
our state and the history that our forefathers
entrusted to us. As we build upon that legacy,
Texas builders exemplify the can-do spirit
and the determination that continues to
make Texas a great place.
Kenneth Sheets
Texas State Representative
Kenneth Sheets is the representative of Texas’ House
District 107. Representative Sheets was first elected
to the Texas House of Representatives in 2010 and
was reelected in 2012 and in 2014. He currently
serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and
Civil Jurisprudence, the Committee on Insurance,
and Local Consent and Calendars Committee.
Representative Sheets is a partner at the Law
Firm of Payne and Blanchard, LLP and a Major
in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
Sheets served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from
September 2007 to May 2008 in Fallujah.
Sheets grew up in Mansfield, Texas with his two
brothers and two sisters. Following graduation
from Mansfield High School, he joined the
Marines. Sheets later attended UT-Arlington and
graduated with a degree in Political Science. In
2004, he earned a Juris Doctor from the Southern
Methodist University's Dedman School of Law.
He and his wife, Michele, have two children,
Kameron and Brook. The Sheets family are
members at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Biography