August 27, 2013
(http://www.sheffieldfortexas.com/)
Contact: Ralph Sheffield, 254-493-4399
TEMPLE – Republican Representative Ralph Sheffield announced today his intentions to seek re-election to the Texas House representing District 55. Sheffield is the owner and operator of the local restaurant and catering service, Las Casas Restaurant and Catering, and was first elected to the Texas House in 2008.
“It is a tremendous honor to serve the people of House District 55,” Sheffield said. “As your voice in Austin, I have focused on maintaining a low-tax, low-regulation business environment that has made Texas the top job-producing state in the nation. With your support and your vote, I will continue to fight for common-sense policies to keep Texas on the path to prosperity.”
During the 83rd legislative session, Representative Sheffield voted for a balanced state budget that cut over $1 billion in taxes for small businesses. He supported historic efforts to plan for Texas’ future by making investments that will help Texas communities fund water and conservation efforts that are crucial to job creation as well as efforts to improve Texas’ transportation infrastructure by increasing transparency and ensuring that fees collected are spent on transportation and not diverted to other priorities. He also helped pass major reforms to Texas’ education system including reducing the number of tests required for graduation from 15 to 5 and providing more flexibility in course requirements for students to prepare for the career of their choice. In addition, Representative Sheffield coauthored momentous legislation that protects life and unborn babies after the 5th month of pregnancy and improves the quality of care women receive.
“I am proud to have supported a balanced budget and to have coauthored legislation that cut over $1 billion in taxes for Texas small businesses,” Sheffield said. “We took great strides to protect life, invest in water and transportation and make important reforms to improve our quality of education.”
Representative Sheffield served as Vice Chair of the Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee and as a member of the Energy Resources Committee. He also served in the Rural Legislators Caucus, the Veterans Caucus, and the Sportsman Caucus. Ralph and his wife, Debbie, attend First United Methodist Church Temple. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.