KYLE, Texas (KXAN) – The City of Kyle will elect its next mayor in Tuesday’s special election.
This comes after incumbent Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell announced he would resign from his office effective this month, one year before his term was scheduled to end.
Mitchell, mayor since 2017, said he was proud of the city’s accomplishments during his tenure in a July Facebook post, noting strong investments made towards the Kyle Police Department, public parks and roads.
“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited to watch as our new major investments begin to materialize in the years ahead,” he said. “I step down with confidence in our long-term position in the region.”
Mitchell also expressed interest in returning to the private sector, adding that he felt it was time someone else led the city in the mayoral office; Mitchell was the longest-serving mayor in Kyle’s history.
Four candidates are on the ballot hoping to take the mayoral office.
Yvonne Flores-Cale
A paralegal and prior Councilwoman for Kyle’s District 2, Flores-Cale boasts her bipartisan approach to governing per her campaign website.
If elected, Flores-Cale wrote she would focus on improving the city’s water system. Kyle has experienced water shortages and water infrastructure challenges, something Flores-Cale said could be fixed by investing more in wastewater systems.
“Kyle’s rapid growth brings both exciting opportunities and significant challenges,” she wrote. “In this time of rapid development, our community deserves strong leadership that instills a sense of security and trust.”
Flores-Cale added she would also focus on improving communication between city hall and Kyle residents and dedicating more funds to improving public roads.
Robert Rizo
The current Councilman for Kyle’s District 2, Rizo’s main concerns are housing affordability and public education.
In a city that’s only continuing to grow, Rizo said on his campaign website that it’s important that Kyle invests more in its schools, roads and public safety to keep up with demand.
“The future of Kyle depends on leadership that knows where Kyle has been and understands how to lead us into the future, together,” Rizo wrote. “Nobody knows this better than me.”
Rizo added he would also invest more money towards Kyle’s downtown area, giving it a “stronger sense of identity and culture.”
Andrea Villescaz
Villescaz filed her campaign for Kyle Mayor Aug. 29, city election filings show. While she has a campaign Facebook page, limited information is currently available about her platform.
Donny Wills
Wills is a U.S. Army veteran who served for over 10 years before being discharged following a traumatic brain injury. He launched his campaign in a bid to ensure the voices of those in Kyle don’t go unheard, according to his campaign’s Facebook page.
Wills said if elected, he would focus on improving government transparency and communication with residents.
“Far too many residents feel their voices aren’t being heard, their concerns are dismissed and their ideas are overlooked,” he said. “That’s not how local government should work. Elected officials are chosen to serve, to listen and to make decisions that reflect the will and well-being of the community, not for personal or political interests.”
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