Fort Bend Sun - News
Fourth Republican announces run for state Senate seat
By AUDREY M. MARKS
Lake Jackson resident Kennith “Ken” Sherman is the fourth and likely final Republican to join in the race to replace former state Sen. Kyle Janek, who represented the 17th District.
The opportunity for candidates to file paper work to run for the seat was scheduled to close at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 according to the order by Gov. Rick Perry.
The Texas Ethics Commission posted Friday a probable final slate of candidates for the special election to represent the district that hooks through portions of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Jefferson counties.
The special election, scheduled for Nov. 4, will coincide with the general election.
Sherman said his campaign won’t be spending any significant amount of money on his state Senate campaign, but will use a great deal of “hand shaking and shoe leather.”
“I’m a novice at this and I’m not a professional politician,” Sherman said in an interview with the Sun Aug. 29.
Sherman said he was inspired to run for office after state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, helped him in dealing with state agencies and wanted to have a positive impact on others, as Bonnen had helped him.
Sherman, an engineer by trade, is the owner of RCI Engineering in Clute. His company specializes in windstorm engineering and inspections along the Texas Gulf Coast.
As a small business owner, he said he represents consumer advocates and believes in fiscal responsibility by the government.
Sherman will join Republicans Joan Huffman, Grant Harpold and Austen Furse in a face-off with Democratic candidate Chris Bell.
The number of Republican candidates in the race has caused some heart burn amidst the party. Some party members and candidates have voiced concern that the number of candidates will split Republican votes and ultimately result in a Democratic win.
Since this is a special election, not a runoff, the candidate who nets the most votes will win the seat.
If no candidate captures more than 50 percent of the votes the top two candidates will head to a run off election.
Janek announced in January 2008 he would not complete his term, but did not officially resign until May. In July Janek joined Austin-based Biophysical Corporation as the vice president of business development.
The winner of the special election will complete the remainder of Janek’s seat set to expire January 2011.
The opportunity for candidates to file paper work to run for the seat was scheduled to close at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 according to the order by Gov. Rick Perry.
The Texas Ethics Commission posted Friday a probable final slate of candidates for the special election to represent the district that hooks through portions of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Jefferson counties.
The special election, scheduled for Nov. 4, will coincide with the general election.
Sherman said his campaign won’t be spending any significant amount of money on his state Senate campaign, but will use a great deal of “hand shaking and shoe leather.”
“I’m a novice at this and I’m not a professional politician,” Sherman said in an interview with the Sun Aug. 29.
Sherman said he was inspired to run for office after state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, helped him in dealing with state agencies and wanted to have a positive impact on others, as Bonnen had helped him.
Sherman, an engineer by trade, is the owner of RCI Engineering in Clute. His company specializes in windstorm engineering and inspections along the Texas Gulf Coast.
As a small business owner, he said he represents consumer advocates and believes in fiscal responsibility by the government.
Sherman will join Republicans Joan Huffman, Grant Harpold and Austen Furse in a face-off with Democratic candidate Chris Bell.
The number of Republican candidates in the race has caused some heart burn amidst the party. Some party members and candidates have voiced concern that the number of candidates will split Republican votes and ultimately result in a Democratic win.
Since this is a special election, not a runoff, the candidate who nets the most votes will win the seat.
If no candidate captures more than 50 percent of the votes the top two candidates will head to a run off election.
Janek announced in January 2008 he would not complete his term, but did not officially resign until May. In July Janek joined Austin-based Biophysical Corporation as the vice president of business development.
The winner of the special election will complete the remainder of Janek’s seat set to expire January 2011.
Copyright © 2009 - Houston Community Newspapers Online