After receiving 208 unique name suggestions from over 299 submissions in the renaming contest for South Goforth Road, the Kyle City Council directed city staff at its March 4 meeting to create a survey allowing residents to vote on a new name inspired by one of three influential Kyle figures: Paula Alvarez, Chevo Pastrano Sr. and Becky Selbera.

The overview

Kyle started a road renaming contest for South Goforth Road, with a survey open until Feb. 24, after the road was identified to be renamed to prevent confusion with existing addresses, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

Of the 208 unique names submitted, 82 were new and did not create conflicts. However, only 45 of those 82 met the contest’s rules and regulations. Additionally, another 60 names were original but lacked a stated connection to Kyle, while another 66 were already in use.

Mayor Travis Mitchell made a motion to direct staff to issue a survey, potentially allowing each address to cast one vote for road names inspired by Paula Alvarez, Chevo Pastrano Sr., and Becky Selbera. The survey will include bios of each of these influential Kyle figures. Afterward, the city will review the survey results, set a public hearing and pass a resolution to rename the road.

The motion was approved 6-1, with council member Robert Rizo dissenting. Rizo had advocated renaming the road Alvarez Avenue, after Paula Alvarez, which was among the 299 name submissions from citizens.

Digging deeper

Paula Alvarez is one of the first Hispanic women to be elected to the Kyle City Council, according to Rizo. Council member Marc McKinney highlighted that Alvarez and her family still reside in Kyle, and they have lived in the city long enough that their home had to be moved to make way for the construction of I-35.

“I think we owe it to her,” Rizo said. “She broke barriers. I mean, during a time where there were just men being elected to council, she was a Hispanic woman that took the initiative and came out and served her community."

Chevo Pastrano Sr. was suggested by Mitchell, who said Pastrano served as a council member from 1986 to 2001, putting him in the running for the longest-serving council member in the history of Kyle.

Becky Selbera was also suggested because she served on the City Council from 2002 to 2017, according to Mitchell, alongside five different mayors, and during a time that “the city of Kyle transformed.”