Kevin Sparks
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Kevin Sparks
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 31
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
The University of Texas, Austin, Bachelor of Business Administration, 1985
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
High Sky Children's Ranch, Board Member, One Accord for Kids
Board Member, Natural Gas Producers Association, Board Member
Texas Public Policy Foundation, Board Member, Midland Classical Academy
Trustee, Texas Lyceum, Alumni
Sonegate Fellowship, Elder
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (7)
August Pfluger
Dan Patrick
Donald Trump
*Gun Owners of America - Texas
Ted Cruz
OTHER (2)
Mike Conaway
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (5)
President Donald Trump
United State Senator Ted Cruz
United States Congressman August Pfluger
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (33)
Accountability First (2014)
Angela Paxton (2020)
August Pfluger (2021)
Chip Roy (2021)
Christi Craddick (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Carlos Uresti (2015)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Life of the mother, all efforts should be made to save all lives.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Did not answer
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Did not answer
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Reform property taxes to lower cost of home ownership for all Texans.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The Texas Constitution requires that we balance the budget and the Texas budget has not increased more than population and inflation in several years. I strongly encourage promoting innovation to make government more efficient across the board like we do as business owners in tough times.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Did not answer
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Did not answer
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Never.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Never
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The best thing Texas can do to combat terrorism is to prevent terrorists from entering the country by securing our border.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Did not answer
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Did not answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Our primary goal, particularly in Texas, must be to protect our national security. The Federal Government is responsible for immigration policy. Immigration policy should improve not only the lives of the immigrant but also American citizens. Importantly, the US should never grant amnesty to individuals who entered the country illegally.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Did not answer
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Did not answer
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Did not answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have a strong faith in Jesus Christ as my savior and from a political standpoint the idea of loving your neighbor as yourself is critical to our society’s ability to self-govern.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Did not answer
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I support the voting reforms enacted in the Special Session and support additional penalties for anyone who votes illegally. In short, we must have free and fair elections that make it easy to vote and hard to cheat.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. Threats to domestic security in the United States have been perpetrated by individuals of many races and rarely motivated by racism.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Did not answer
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Did not answer
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The general purpose of government is to protect our natural, or God-given rights, and to provide for the common good when doing so is not practical by private industry.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Did not answer
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/Midland-s-Kevin-Sparks-to-run-for-state-senate-16386294.php
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I have spent my life working in the oil and gas industry creating good jobs in West Texas and the Permian Basin. Oil and gas is under attack by radicals who want to transform our way of life and eliminate countless good-paying Texas jobs. Currently, no member of the Texas Senate has experience in this vital part of our economy. If elected, I will defend the jobs of hard-working Texans in oil and gas.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Did not answer
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Enforce the laws on the books.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Did not answer
