Texas Builder, Mar/Apr 2016

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Speaking Out
is an excellent opportunity for a young
person to succeed and have a meaningful
career. As someone who sits on the Higher
Education Committee, I want to develop
more partnerships between industry and
schools to train workers. Builders need
to have a seat at the table when designing
course instruction for community colleges to
train more workers. That way, when a student
graduates they have a job waiting them and a
builder has a reliably trained employee.
As the former Chairman of the House
Committee on Defense and Veterans’
Affairs and long-time supporter of
veterans, what can businesses do to
help ensure our dedicated servicemen
have access to sustainable careers and
affordable homes?
Veterans make the best employees. Post 9/11
veterans are especially well equipped because
they are trained in logistics, cutting edge
technologies, manage multi-million dollar
platforms, and their organizational skills
are unmatched. Veterans need champions
in their corners from business leaders, to
service organizations, to the government
assisting them on their path to employment.
The easiest commitment business leaders can
make is to hire veterans and be their advocate
in the community and that includes creating
affordable housing with veterans in mind.
As a member of the Senate Committee
on Intergovernmental Relations and
a former city council member, you
are acutely familiar with the constant
struggle between the balance of private
property rights and municipal growth and
expansion. What can government do to
“stay out of the way” while still providing
reasonable and common sense oversight
over the building process?
I believe the building and construction
industry has equal responsibility to provide
oversight as the government does. Simply
becausebuilderswanttoprovideahighquality
house to future home owners. It has been my
experience that high quality builders will
develop a reputation for their work. Investors
and developers will notice and choose the
builders with the best craftsmanship for
a reasonable price. Therefore, a builder's
reputation helps in providing reasonable
oversight. The government is simply there to
ensure everything is up to code.
Your Senate seat is up for re-election
again this year, with the primary taking
place on March 1. Our association
appreciates the dedication and sacrifice
running for office and serving in the Texas
Legislature requires. How do you find
time to campaign for office, manage your
professional obligations and have time for
your wife and children?
My family is my number one priority. So
it can be difficult trying to juggle being a
father, a Senator, and working at Stewart
Title. However, I try to make time to drop off
and pick up my kids from school every day.
That gives me time to catch up on their day
and learn what is going on in class. It's tough
José Menéndez
Texas State Senator
• State Senator José Menéndez is the Texas
Senate's newest member, but has proven
himself one of the most effective. In his
first session, he passed 38 bills and secured
millions of state dollars to help Texas
families and business.
• Under his leadership, $32 million was
appropriated for the development of the
Alamo. This is the largest state funding the
General Land Office has ever received for
the Alamo. Senator Menéndez also helped
secure $8.9 million for Alamo Colleges to
build and develop Veterans support centers;
$11 million for Texas A&M San Antonio to
expand into a 4 year campus and $3 billion
additional dollars for Texas public schools.
• Senator Menéndez also passed multiple
bills, Senate Bill 1989, House Bill 3535
and House Bill 3576, that improve
access to affordable housing for Bexar
County families.
• Prior to being elected a State Senator,
he served as a Representative for House
District 124. He was elected to the Texas
House in 2000, and during his tenure, he
was entrusted with an appointment to
the powerful Appropriations Committee,
where he secured thousands of
dollars for Haven for Hope, Morgan’s
Wonderland, and other crucial San
Antonio initiatives. In his final session as
State Representative, he was appointed
Chairman of the House Committee on
Defense and Veterans’ Affairs, where he
passed one of the state’s largest mental
health programs for Veterans.
Biography
when you have to miss a basketball game.
Fortunately, my family understands that
I'm trying to build the same opportunities
for every family in San Antonio that we are
blessed to have. .