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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder |name=Ralph Edgar Sheffield |image=Ralph Sheffield of TX.jpg Jump to: navigation, search |nationality=American |office= Texas..."
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Ralph Edgar Sheffield
|image=Ralph Sheffield of TX.jpg
Jump to: navigation, search
|nationality=[[United States|American]]
|office= [[Texas]] State Representative<br>for District 55 (Bell County)]]
|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|term_start=November 20, 2008
|term_end=January 13, 2015
|preceded=Dianne White Delisi
|succeeded=Molly S. White
|birth_date=January 11, 1955,
|birth_place=[[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas
|residence=Temple, Texas
|spouse=(1) Sheryl Sheffield, now Sheryl Harding (divorced)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tdtnews.com/archive/article_2f6bb1db-ce8a-5fdc-9404-ce4bb9259dda.html|title=Weddings 2003: Sheffield-Fortin|publisher=''Temple Daily Telegram''|accessdate=February 21, 2014}}</ref><br>
(2) Deborah Sue Jensen Sheffield
|children=From first marriage:<br>
Ashley Sheffield Itenberg<br>
Adrienne Nicole Sheffield<br>
Stepsons:<br>
Joshua Michael Eymann<br>
Benjamin Ryan Jensen
|religion=[[United Methodist]]
|alma_mater=Richfield High School (Waco_)}}
'''Ralph Edgar Sheffield''' (born January 11, 1955)<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/102041/ralph-sheffield#.UwbIV5WPIfh|title=Ralph Sheffield's Political Summary|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref> is a restaurateur in Temple, [[Texas]], who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] three-term former state representative for District 55 seat. He was first elected in 2008 in his Bell County district.
==Background==
Sheffield was born in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]] in McLennan Count]y, Texas, from which he graduated in 1973 from the former Richfield High School. At the age of nineteen in 1975, he opened his first restaurant. Since 1982, he has owned and operated Las Casas Restaurant in Temple, which specializes in White Wings, a trademarked menu item developed by Sheffield himself. He also operates All Occasion Catering. A member of the Temple Restaurant Association, he was from 2002 to 2003, the president of the Texas Restaurant Association, which has more than five thousand members. He is affiliated with the [[Farm Bureau]] Federation, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the [[Chamber of Commerce]] in Temple, Killeen, Belton and Harker Heights,..<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/members/bios/5658.pdf|title=Ralph Sheffield Biography|publisher=Texas Legislative Reference Library|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>
Sheffield and his second wife, Deborah "Debbie" Sue Sheffield (born 1958), attend the first [[United Methodist]] Church of Temple. Ralph and Debbie Sheffield have a combined four adult children, Ashley, Adrienne, Joshua, and Benjamin.<ref name=votesmart/>
==Political life==
In the Republican primary in 2008, Sheffield and three other candidates filed to succeed Republican Representative Dianne White Delisi, who did not seek reelection and vacated her seat early. Sheffield finished second in the primary with 4,372 votes (30.9 percent). The leading candidate was Martha Tyroch, whoi polled 5,126 ballots (36.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, 2008.</ref>In the ensuing runoff election, Sheffield defeated Tyroch, 4,204 (63.5 percent) to 2,418 (36.5 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican runoff, 2008.</ref>In the [[general election]], Sheffield defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Sam Murphey, 30,189 (53.9 percent) to 24,290 (43.4 percent). Another 2.69 percent was cast for a [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] nominee, Chris Lane.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns, 2008.</ref> Because Delisi left the seat early, a [[special election]], with a lower turnout of voters, was held in conjunction with the general election. In that contest, Sheffield prevailed 49.7 percent to Murphey's 44.96 percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 4, 2008.</ref>
Since that time, Sheffield has faced only one other competitive race, the 2012 Republican primary, in which he defeated John Alfred Alaniz (born c. 1961) of Temple, an earlier opponent from 2008. In that race, Sheffield polled 6,400 votes (57.4 percent) to Alaniz's 4,752 votes (42.6 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, May 29, 2012.</ref>
Sheffield lost his bid for a fourth term in the House in the Republican primary held on March 4, 2014; he was unseated by [[Molly White (Texas politician)|Molly White]] of Belton, who like Alaniz in 2012 carried the backing of the [[Tea Party movement]].<ref name=sharednames/><ref name=electionreturns>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=11554&id=628|title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014|publisher=team1.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref>
Because Sheffield and an adjoining Republican state representative, [[J. D. Sheffield]], a medical director from Gatesville in Coryell County, share surnames, voters in both districts often confuse the lawmakers, who are unrelated. J. D. Sheffield, a [[Moderate Republican]] was unseated in the 2020 Republican primary.<ref name=sharednames>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2013/12/09/rep-rep-rep/|title=Ross Ramsey, "Shared Name May Be Hurdle to Keeping Post"|date=December 9, 2013|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|accessdate=February 21, 2014}}</ref>
Sheffield is the vice chairman of the House Defense and Veterans Committee. He is a member of the Energy Resources Committee. He is a past recipient of the "Champion for Free Enterprise" award from the Texas Association of Business.<ref name=bio/>
In the 2013 legislative session, Sheffield voted to forbid [[abortion]] after twenty weeks of [[gestation]] and to increase medical requirements and licensing of abortion providers. However, despite these votes, Texas [[Right to Life]] rated him overall only 40 percent favorable in its 2013 ratings, down from 60 percent in 2011.<ref name=ratings/>He opposed a taxpayer-funded breakfast program for public schools; the measure nevertheless passed the House, 73-58. Though he co-sponsored legislation to provide marshals for security in the schools, he voted against his own bill on final passage. He opposed authorizing the immunization of minors without parental consent, a measure which the House nevertheless approved, 71-61. He voted to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses. Sheffield voted to prohibit texting while driving and to require testing for [[narcotics]] of those receiving unemployment compensation. He voted for an "equal pay for women" measure, which passed the House, 78-61. He voted to forbid the state from enforcing federal regulations of firearms and co-sponsored the law allowing college and university officials to carry concealed weapons in the name of campus security. He voted against term limits for certain officials<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/102041/ralph-sheffield#.UwbOd5WPIfg|title=Ralph Sheffield's Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>
In 2013, [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]] gave Sheffield a 65 percent grade, and the Young Conservatives of Texas ranked him 68 percent favorable. The [[interest group]], Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, rated him 52 percent favorably in 2013. However, the Texas Association of Business rated Sheffield 100 percent, as did the [[National Rifle Association]].<ref name=ratings>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/102041/ralph-sheffield#.UwbQVZWPIfg|title=Ralph Sheffield's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheffield, Ralph}}
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:United Methodists]]
|name=Ralph Edgar Sheffield
|image=Ralph Sheffield of TX.jpg
Jump to: navigation, search
|nationality=[[United States|American]]
|office= [[Texas]] State Representative<br>for District 55 (Bell County)]]
|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|term_start=November 20, 2008
|term_end=January 13, 2015
|preceded=Dianne White Delisi
|succeeded=Molly S. White
|birth_date=January 11, 1955,
|birth_place=[[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas
|residence=Temple, Texas
|spouse=(1) Sheryl Sheffield, now Sheryl Harding (divorced)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tdtnews.com/archive/article_2f6bb1db-ce8a-5fdc-9404-ce4bb9259dda.html|title=Weddings 2003: Sheffield-Fortin|publisher=''Temple Daily Telegram''|accessdate=February 21, 2014}}</ref><br>
(2) Deborah Sue Jensen Sheffield
|children=From first marriage:<br>
Ashley Sheffield Itenberg<br>
Adrienne Nicole Sheffield<br>
Stepsons:<br>
Joshua Michael Eymann<br>
Benjamin Ryan Jensen
|religion=[[United Methodist]]
|alma_mater=Richfield High School (Waco_)}}
'''Ralph Edgar Sheffield''' (born January 11, 1955)<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/102041/ralph-sheffield#.UwbIV5WPIfh|title=Ralph Sheffield's Political Summary|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref> is a restaurateur in Temple, [[Texas]], who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] three-term former state representative for District 55 seat. He was first elected in 2008 in his Bell County district.
==Background==
Sheffield was born in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]] in McLennan Count]y, Texas, from which he graduated in 1973 from the former Richfield High School. At the age of nineteen in 1975, he opened his first restaurant. Since 1982, he has owned and operated Las Casas Restaurant in Temple, which specializes in White Wings, a trademarked menu item developed by Sheffield himself. He also operates All Occasion Catering. A member of the Temple Restaurant Association, he was from 2002 to 2003, the president of the Texas Restaurant Association, which has more than five thousand members. He is affiliated with the [[Farm Bureau]] Federation, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the [[Chamber of Commerce]] in Temple, Killeen, Belton and Harker Heights,..<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/members/bios/5658.pdf|title=Ralph Sheffield Biography|publisher=Texas Legislative Reference Library|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>
Sheffield and his second wife, Deborah "Debbie" Sue Sheffield (born 1958), attend the first [[United Methodist]] Church of Temple. Ralph and Debbie Sheffield have a combined four adult children, Ashley, Adrienne, Joshua, and Benjamin.<ref name=votesmart/>
==Political life==
In the Republican primary in 2008, Sheffield and three other candidates filed to succeed Republican Representative Dianne White Delisi, who did not seek reelection and vacated her seat early. Sheffield finished second in the primary with 4,372 votes (30.9 percent). The leading candidate was Martha Tyroch, whoi polled 5,126 ballots (36.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, 2008.</ref>In the ensuing runoff election, Sheffield defeated Tyroch, 4,204 (63.5 percent) to 2,418 (36.5 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican runoff, 2008.</ref>In the [[general election]], Sheffield defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Sam Murphey, 30,189 (53.9 percent) to 24,290 (43.4 percent). Another 2.69 percent was cast for a [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] nominee, Chris Lane.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns, 2008.</ref> Because Delisi left the seat early, a [[special election]], with a lower turnout of voters, was held in conjunction with the general election. In that contest, Sheffield prevailed 49.7 percent to Murphey's 44.96 percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 4, 2008.</ref>
Since that time, Sheffield has faced only one other competitive race, the 2012 Republican primary, in which he defeated John Alfred Alaniz (born c. 1961) of Temple, an earlier opponent from 2008. In that race, Sheffield polled 6,400 votes (57.4 percent) to Alaniz's 4,752 votes (42.6 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, Republican primary, May 29, 2012.</ref>
Sheffield lost his bid for a fourth term in the House in the Republican primary held on March 4, 2014; he was unseated by [[Molly White (Texas politician)|Molly White]] of Belton, who like Alaniz in 2012 carried the backing of the [[Tea Party movement]].<ref name=sharednames/><ref name=electionreturns>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=11554&id=628|title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014|publisher=team1.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref>
Because Sheffield and an adjoining Republican state representative, [[J. D. Sheffield]], a medical director from Gatesville in Coryell County, share surnames, voters in both districts often confuse the lawmakers, who are unrelated. J. D. Sheffield, a [[Moderate Republican]] was unseated in the 2020 Republican primary.<ref name=sharednames>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2013/12/09/rep-rep-rep/|title=Ross Ramsey, "Shared Name May Be Hurdle to Keeping Post"|date=December 9, 2013|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|accessdate=February 21, 2014}}</ref>
Sheffield is the vice chairman of the House Defense and Veterans Committee. He is a member of the Energy Resources Committee. He is a past recipient of the "Champion for Free Enterprise" award from the Texas Association of Business.<ref name=bio/>
In the 2013 legislative session, Sheffield voted to forbid [[abortion]] after twenty weeks of [[gestation]] and to increase medical requirements and licensing of abortion providers. However, despite these votes, Texas [[Right to Life]] rated him overall only 40 percent favorable in its 2013 ratings, down from 60 percent in 2011.<ref name=ratings/>He opposed a taxpayer-funded breakfast program for public schools; the measure nevertheless passed the House, 73-58. Though he co-sponsored legislation to provide marshals for security in the schools, he voted against his own bill on final passage. He opposed authorizing the immunization of minors without parental consent, a measure which the House nevertheless approved, 71-61. He voted to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses. Sheffield voted to prohibit texting while driving and to require testing for [[narcotics]] of those receiving unemployment compensation. He voted for an "equal pay for women" measure, which passed the House, 78-61. He voted to forbid the state from enforcing federal regulations of firearms and co-sponsored the law allowing college and university officials to carry concealed weapons in the name of campus security. He voted against term limits for certain officials<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/102041/ralph-sheffield#.UwbOd5WPIfg|title=Ralph Sheffield's Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>
In 2013, [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]] gave Sheffield a 65 percent grade, and the Young Conservatives of Texas ranked him 68 percent favorable. The [[interest group]], Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, rated him 52 percent favorably in 2013. However, the Texas Association of Business rated Sheffield 100 percent, as did the [[National Rifle Association]].<ref name=ratings>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/102041/ralph-sheffield#.UwbQVZWPIfg|title=Ralph Sheffield's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheffield, Ralph}}
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:United Methodists]]