Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Meet the candidates
Candidates for the Place 1 include incumbent Bear Heiser and opponents Ellen Ermis, Courtney Goza and Kyle LeVell.
Other races
Click here to read about the Kyle City Council Place 2, here to read about Kyle Place 3 candidates and here to read about Kyle mayor candidates.
Bear Heiser
Experience:
3 years experience on Kyle City Council, creator of multiple successful social programs, community leader
Occupation:
Consultant
Candidate Website:
https://www.bearforkyle.com
Contact Information:
[email protected]
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
I’m running because I am passionate about this work and because I am deeply invested in this community. My kids go to our Hays CISD public schools. My wife and I both work here, we volunteer in the schools, we own a home here, and we made the decision to ...
What infrastructure projects would you like to see prioritized in the next term?
We are about to break ground on multiple voter-approved road projects that were a part of the 2022 Road Bond. Those projects are critical to the long-term infrastructure needs of our city. If we can get these road projects underway and completed efficiently, our residents are going to save themselves ...
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
Growth is happening whether or not we want it. Land owners legally can sell to developers who then can build whatever they want as long as it complies with the zoning. The best thing we can do is work diligently to ensure that any development projects that come about add ...
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
There is no one magic-bullet way of getting resident feedback. It’s a combination of surveys, in-person events along with one-to-one contact. Those are the best ways to gauge sentiment. Ultimately, though, what it boils down to is whether or not we are effectively communicating what we are trying to accomplish ...
How do you approach collaboration with the City Council and other stakeholders?
It’s about engaging without bias or conflict. We all love our cities, our county. That right there is the foundation for effective collaboration. For example, I successfully collaborated with Hays CISD, the Hays County Health Department, our Local Mental Health Authority, and healthcare professionals to launch Kyle’s first youth-focused mental ...
Ellen Ermis
Experience:
Grant writing/management, public/private partnership, strategic planning, event/conference planning, nonprofit management, community wellness.
Occupation:
Retired Texas State University, Phd in Ed., Honors & Psy.
Candidate Website:
https://www.facebook.com/p/ellen-ermis-for-district-1-kyle-city-council-61579251045950
Contact Information:
Candidate did not respond to this question by time of press.
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
I’m motivated to serve the people of Kyle on City Council by a long family history of service to community and by our community cry for transparency, low cost solutions, inclusiveness and partnerships.
What infrastructure projects would you like to see prioritized in the next term?
Consultants have designed excellent master plans for water, sewer, transportation and more. The city management, council and employees need to understand and follow the master plans. Allocations for maintenance and staff, and respect for the public workers are necessary.
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
Growth happens, but long-term considerations is important to avoid past decisions resulting in problems. Kyle still retains the old small-town Texas, friendly and connected atmosphere. That is silver lining to our growth, where we can build a unique, caring, connected and historic community culture and develop as regional tourist destination.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
Citizens are involved out of anger and frustration, many on advisory boards feel city decisions ignore community input they bring. I keep an open door, peaceful, approachable, honest approach, serve as communications and grants director for a local nonprofit and staff the front desk at City Hall Friday mornings.
How do you approach collaboration with the City Council and other stakeholders?
Collaboration, it’s what I do: connect, compromise, communicate among nonprofit, for profit, blue collar, white collar, staff, department heads and citizens. Take a regional and local approach and work inside out and outside in. Collaborate with Texas State faculty, staff and students to meet common master plan goals.
Courtney Goza
Experience:
Public administration, government contracting, negotiation, planning and development
Occupation:
Commercial and residential Realtor
Candidate Website:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1JWyMj1oAS
Contact Information:
512-468-7076
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
Many people in our community do not feel heard by the council. I have seen many decisions where I thought they made poorly educated choices. I want to restore the people's voice.
What infrastructure projects would you like to see prioritized in the next term?
The primary complaints I see from residents are roads and sidewalks. I would want to prioritize sidewalks around our schools.
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
We are at a very critical point in our city where the cost to improve our infrastructure to accommodate the rapid growth has far exceeded our ability to pay for it without significantly raising costs to the citizens. Future development is going to have to be phased in more slowly ...
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
I currently have a Facebook page where citizens can interact with me. I will be setting up a webpage as well. I will have regular polls so citizens can tell me what they want. I have seen several public servants who keep a very open dialog with frequent updates about ...
How do you approach collaboration with the City Council and other stakeholders?
As a real estate agent, you learn how to compromise and negotiate to get the job done. You also learn sometimes that's not possible and that's where strategic negotiation comes into play. My previous experience in government contract work and current experience lend those skills.
Kyle LeVell
Experience:
Supply chain project leader, local civic engagement, nonprofit volunteer
Occupation:
Predictive planning analytics
Contact Information:
737-315-6773
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
The focus for our city is on streets, signage, sewers, and public safety, while also lowering property taxes. This means addressing high water rates, fixing neglected roads, reducing congestion, and equipping first responders with personnel, training, and resources to serve our rapidly growing community.
What infrastructure projects would you like to see prioritized in the next term?
With fiscal discipline to lower property taxes, I foresee repairing roads, reducing congestion at intersections, expanding water and wastewater capacity, and strengthening public safety with additional personnel, training, and technology to ensure first responders can meet the needs of our growing community.
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
I will focus on balanced development that prioritizes water, roads, signage, and public safety before new projects. Growth must be sustainable, fiscally responsible, and improve quality of life for families and businesses, building our city at its finest without increasing property taxes.
How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
I will hold regular listening sessions, increase communication through digital platforms, and ensure transparency in city decisions. Our community will have a clear voice in how tax dollars are spent, a return on investment, and a seat at the table in shaping Kyle’s future.
How do you approach collaboration with the City Council and other stakeholders?
I will work with fellow council members, city staff, and community leaders to find common ground, prioritize primary needs, and deliver results that serve the best interests of our Kyle, Texas community. I believe in respectful, solution-focused collaboration, not demagoguery.
