Changes

| term_end=January 2019 (pending) | preceded=[[Jimmie Don Aycock]]| succeeded= [[Brad Buckley]]

'''Rodney Scott Cosper''', known as '''Scott Cosper''' (born November 8, 1968),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/rodney-cosper/e139700012142|title=Rodney Cosper|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> is a lame duck [[Republican Party|Republican]] former state representative for District 54 in Bell and Lampasas counties in central [[Texas]]. In 2017, he succeeded fellow Republican [[Jimmie Don Aycock]], a [[veterinarian]] who did not seek re-election in 2016a sixth legislative term.

Cosper is the former [[mayor]] of Killeen in Bell County, a position which he held from 2014 to 2016. For the nine years prior to 2014, he was a member of the Killeen City Council.<ref>{{cite web|author=Josh Sullivan|url=http://kdhnews.com/news/local/former-killeen-mayor-starts-new-life-as-state-legislator/article_1356660e-d78f-11e6-aa25-dbdd56143380.html|title=Former Killeen mayor starts new life as state legislator|accessdate=January 16, 2017|publisher=''Killeen Daily Herald''|date=January 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jeff Lowe|title=Killeen mayor joins race for Texas House|url=http://www.lampasasdispatchrecord.com/news/2015-10-13/Front_Page/Killeen_mayor_joins_race_for_Texas_House.html|accessdate=16 January 2017|publisher=''Lampasas Dispatch Record''|date=October 13, 2015}}</ref> In Killeen, Cosper was [[recall]]ed from the city council in 2011, when a dispute developed over the buyout of a contact for a former city manager. While Cosper was mayor, financial troubles led to an $8 million projected shortfall amid much public concern.<ref name=kdh/>

To win the state House positionin 2016, Cosper barely defeated fellow Republican Austin Ruiz, 50.44 to 49.56 percent in a runoff contest. He then defeated in the [[general election]] the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee, Sandra Jean Blankenship (born 1964) of Killeen, 28,894 (54.8 percent) to 23,794 (45.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist319_state.htm|title=Election Results|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=, Election Returns, November 8, 2016|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}.</ref>

In his bid for a second term in 2018, Cosper was forced into a runoff election on May 22 with fellow Republican Bradley Leo "[[Brad" Buckley (born September 14, 1966)]], a Killeen veterinarian. Cosper had led who formerly served on the board of the three-candidate GOP field with 4,472 (44Killeen School District.6 percent) to Buckleydid not make an issue of Cosper's 4,173 (41.6 percent)tenure as an embattled city official. The remaining 1challenger attributed his victory to his personal style,390 votes (13.9 percent) went door-to Larry R. Smith-door campaigning, whose supporters were critical in and the second round strength of ballotinghis platform. Smith had also finished third in the 2016 primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 6Buckley is considered no more [[conservative]] than Cosper, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> Cosper was then unseated with both in the runoff, 3,185 votes (41.7 percent) to Buckley's 4,445 (58.3 percent)[[Moderate Republican]] camp.<ref>{{cite web|urlname=https:kdh//enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_race3.htm|title=Republican Primary Runoff Election Returns for State House District 54|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref>

With Cosper eliminatedhad led the three-candidate GOP field with 4, 472 (44.6 percent) to Buckley now faces Sandra Blankenship's 4, who is once again seeking 173 (41.6 percent). The remaining 1,390 votes (13.9 percent) went to Larry R. Smith, whose supporters were critical in the state House seat on the Democratic ticket second round of balloting. Smith had also finished third in the November 2016 primary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 6 general election, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> Cosper was then unseated in the runoff, 3,185 votes (41.7 percent) to Buckley's 4,445 (58.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwenrpages.facebooksos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_race3.htm|title=Republican Primary Runoff Election Returns for State House District 54|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref>  Between January 26 and May 20, 2018, Cosper received $191,400 in contributions from two [[political action committee]]s associated with the retiring Moderate Republican House Speaker [[Joe Straus]] of [[San Antonio]]: the Texas House Leadership Fund and Associated Republicans of Texas. Buckley reported $54,115 in contributions between Feb. 25 and May 20, 2018, the largest having been payment in three installments of $25,000 from the National Cutting Horse Association Texas Events PAC. Cosper spent $77.49 for each vote received; Buckley, $12.17.<ref name=kdh>{{cite web|url=http://kdhnews.com/VoteSandraBlankenshipnews/district-runoff-election-postmortem-what-contributed-to-buckley-upset-of/article_3286264c-6161-11e8-b6ed-b35fe933f1b3.html|title=Sandra District 54 runoff election postmortem: What contributed to Buckley upset of Cosper?|author=Kyle Blankenship|publisher=''Killeen Daily Herald''|date=May 26, 2018|accessdate=May 28, 2018}}</ref>  Cosper immediately endorsed Buckley, who said that Cosper was "very magnanimous to get behind me and support me.”<ref name=kdh/> With Cosper eliminated, Buckley defeated in the November 6 general election the "[[Facebookprogressive]]" Democrat Kathy Richerson, 25,924 votes (53.8 percent) to 22,222 (46.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 18November 7, 2018}}</ref> She is a retired [[real estate]] agent who raises [[goat]]s in rural Bell County. Coincidentally, Buckley is her veterinarian.<ref name=kdh/>