Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

City Council, District 4

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

City of Kyle
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked3-way race
Leah KaufmanLeah KaufmanNonpartisan
Spencer CopelandSpencer CopelandNonpartisan
Kenneth RochaKenneth RochaNonpartisan
On ballot as
Leah Kaufman
Spencer Copeland
Kenneth Rocha
Current role
Vice President of Public Policy, national nonprofit organization
Senior managing consultant in disaster recovery
Not found
Background
  • More than 15 years in nonprofit public policy (per candidate)
  • Former EMT (per candidate)
  • Has raised her family in Kyle for seven years with her husband, a firefighter (per campaign)
  • B.S. in criminal justice (per candidate)
  • M.S. in homeland security studies (per candidate)
  • Consultant since 2021 helping governments, universities, hospitals and schools secure disaster funding (per campaign)
  • Kyle resident with his family since 2021 (per campaign)
  • B.S. in public administration, Stephen F. Austin State University (per candidate)
  • More than 20 years of professional experience in local government (per candidate)
  • Fire investigator and park ranger experience (cited at a candidate forum, per Hays Free Press)
Experience
  • Founder, family nature club (per campaign)
  • Organizer, The Big Book Give, an annual community book drive, three years (per campaign)
  • Chaired the Kyle Library Board and Kyle Economic Development and Tourism Board (per candidate)
  • Served as a Planning and Zoning commissioner (per candidate)
  • Texas Division of Emergency Management affiliate (2017–2020) (per campaign)
  • Assistant committee clerk, Texas House Insurance Committee (2017) (per campaign)
  • Student regent, Texas State University System (2016) (per campaign)
  • Has served on advisory committees, nonprofit boards and local commissions (per candidate)
Top priorities
  • "My priorities are strengthening our community and planning responsibly for growth"
  • "I'll focus on infrastructure, public safety and the services that improve everyday life"
  • "Fiscal responsibility means getting the greatest long-term value for taxpayers, not simply the lowest upfront cost"
  • "Development should help pay for the capacity it requires and strengthen our community rather than simply making Kyle bigger"
  • "Community Assets & Quality of Life": "Libraries, parks, Vybe Trails, events, and the arts are essential to building a strong community"
  • "Revitalize Economic Development": "attracting industries that offer good-paying jobs"
  • "Responsible Growth & Infrastructure": "Kyle needs a growth strategy that plans for long-term costs, protects taxpayers"
  • On voter-approved road bonds: "the City has an obligation to complete these projects efficiently"
  • "reliable water and utility service, safer, better-connected roads, appropriately resourced police, well-maintained green spaces, and responsible budgeting"
  • "Growth should pay its fair share"
  • Says major projects should "have clear scopes, alternatives, costs, and funding plans before we commit taxpayer dollars"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Fiscal responsibility means getting the greatest long-term value for taxpayers, not simply the lowest upfront cost."
  • Growth and infrastructure: "Development should help pay for the capacity it requires and strengthen our community rather than simply making Kyle bigger."
  • Flooding and drainage: In a Hays County Young Democrats questionnaire: "We should also use thoughtful drainage and development practices to reduce runoff and protect our creeks and watersheds."
  • Public safety: On license-plate cameras: "I have deep reservations about the expansion of automated surveillance technology without strong safeguards."
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Kyle/Buda-Area Democrats questionnaire: "we need to protect essential services, maintain adequate reserves, and spend public funds wisely."
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site: "Kyle needs a growth strategy that plans for long-term costs, protects taxpayers, and ensures our infrastructure keeps pace with our community."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Kyle/Buda-Area Democrats questionnaire: "I am concerned about the use of Flock in our community for three reasons."
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Kyle/Buda-Area Democrats questionnaire: "Growth cannot be an excuse for unchecked spending or withdrawal of unrestricted reserve funds."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Development should fund the infrastructure and services it requires, while Council stays transparent about impacts on existing residents."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: On surveillance cameras such as Flock: "I support technology that demonstrably improves public safety."
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
Campaign website
kaufmanforkyle.com
spencercopeland.com
Not found
Leah Kaufman

Leah Kaufman

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Leah Kaufman
Current role
Vice President of Public Policy, national nonprofit organization
Background
  • More than 15 years in nonprofit public policy (per candidate)
  • Former EMT (per candidate)
  • Has raised her family in Kyle for seven years with her husband, a firefighter (per campaign)
Experience
  • Founder, family nature club (per campaign)
  • Organizer, The Big Book Give, an annual community book drive, three years (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "My priorities are strengthening our community and planning responsibly for growth"
  • "I'll focus on infrastructure, public safety and the services that improve everyday life"
  • "Fiscal responsibility means getting the greatest long-term value for taxpayers, not simply the lowest upfront cost"
  • "Development should help pay for the capacity it requires and strengthen our community rather than simply making Kyle bigger"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Fiscal responsibility means getting the greatest long-term value for taxpayers, not simply the lowest upfront cost."
  • Growth and infrastructure: "Development should help pay for the capacity it requires and strengthen our community rather than simply making Kyle bigger."
  • Flooding and drainage: In a Hays County Young Democrats questionnaire: "We should also use thoughtful drainage and development practices to reduce runoff and protect our creeks and watersheds."
  • Public safety: On license-plate cameras: "I have deep reservations about the expansion of automated surveillance technology without strong safeguards."
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
kaufmanforkyle.com
Spencer Copeland

Spencer Copeland

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Spencer Copeland
Current role
Senior managing consultant in disaster recovery
Background
  • B.S. in criminal justice (per candidate)
  • M.S. in homeland security studies (per candidate)
  • Consultant since 2021 helping governments, universities, hospitals and schools secure disaster funding (per campaign)
  • Kyle resident with his family since 2021 (per campaign)
Experience
  • Chaired the Kyle Library Board and Kyle Economic Development and Tourism Board (per candidate)
  • Served as a Planning and Zoning commissioner (per candidate)
  • Texas Division of Emergency Management affiliate (2017–2020) (per campaign)
  • Assistant committee clerk, Texas House Insurance Committee (2017) (per campaign)
  • Student regent, Texas State University System (2016) (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "Community Assets & Quality of Life": "Libraries, parks, Vybe Trails, events, and the arts are essential to building a strong community"
  • "Revitalize Economic Development": "attracting industries that offer good-paying jobs"
  • "Responsible Growth & Infrastructure": "Kyle needs a growth strategy that plans for long-term costs, protects taxpayers"
  • On voter-approved road bonds: "the City has an obligation to complete these projects efficiently"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Kyle/Buda-Area Democrats questionnaire: "we need to protect essential services, maintain adequate reserves, and spend public funds wisely."
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site: "Kyle needs a growth strategy that plans for long-term costs, protects taxpayers, and ensures our infrastructure keeps pace with our community."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Kyle/Buda-Area Democrats questionnaire: "I am concerned about the use of Flock in our community for three reasons."
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
spencercopeland.com
Kenneth Rocha

Kenneth Rocha

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Kenneth Rocha
Current role
Not found
Background
  • B.S. in public administration, Stephen F. Austin State University (per candidate)
  • More than 20 years of professional experience in local government (per candidate)
  • Fire investigator and park ranger experience (cited at a candidate forum, per Hays Free Press)
Experience
  • Has served on advisory committees, nonprofit boards and local commissions (per candidate)
Top priorities
  • "reliable water and utility service, safer, better-connected roads, appropriately resourced police, well-maintained green spaces, and responsible budgeting"
  • "Growth should pay its fair share"
  • Says major projects should "have clear scopes, alternatives, costs, and funding plans before we commit taxpayer dollars"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Kyle/Buda-Area Democrats questionnaire: "Growth cannot be an excuse for unchecked spending or withdrawal of unrestricted reserve funds."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Development should fund the infrastructure and services it requires, while Council stays transparent about impacts on existing residents."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: On surveillance cameras such as Flock: "I support technology that demonstrably improves public safety."
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

Open in the full comparison: Hays County

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