Scott Cosper

Rodney Scott Cosper
Texas State Representative for District 54 (Bell and Lampasas counties)
In office January 10, 2017 – January 2019
Preceded by	Jimmie Don Aycock
Succeeded by	Brad Buckley
Born	November 8, 1968 Place of birth missing Resident and former mayor of Killeen, Texas
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Christina R. "Christy" Cosper (married 2004)
Children	Two daughters
Alma mater	Central Texas College in Killeen
Occupation	Real estate developer
Religion	Southern Baptist
Website	http://scottcosper.com

Rodney Scott Cosper, known as Scott Cosper (born November 8, 1968),^[1] is a 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 a 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.^[2][3] In Killeen, Cosper was recalled 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.^[4]

To win the state House position in 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 nominee, Sandra Jean Blankenship (born 1964) of Killeen, 28,894 (54.8 percent) to 23,794 (45.2 percent).^[5]

In his bid for a second term in 2018, Cosper was forced into a runoff election on May 22 with fellow Republican Brad Buckley, a veterinarian who formerly served on the board of the Killeen School District. Buckley did not make an issue of Cosper's tenure as an embattled city official. The challenger attributed his victory to his personal style, door-to-door campaigning, and the strength of his platform. Buckley is considered no more conservative than Cosper, with both in the Moderate Republican camp.^[4]

Cosper had led the three-candidate GOP field with 4,472 (44.6 percent) to Buckley's 4,173 (41.6 percent). The remaining 1,390 votes (13.9 percent) went to Larry R. Smith, whose supporters were critical in the second round of balloting. Smith had also finished third in the 2016 primary.^[6] Cosper was then unseated in the runoff, 3,185 votes (41.7 percent) to Buckley's 4,445 (58.3 percent).^[7]

Between January 26 and May 20, 2018, Cosper received $191,400 in contributions from two political action committees 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.^[4]

Cosper immediately endorsed Buckley, who said that Cosper was "very magnanimous to get behind me and support me.”^[4] With Cosper eliminated, Buckley defeated in the November 6 general election the "progressive" Democrat Kathy Richerson, 25,924 votes (53.8 percent) to 22,222 (46.2 percent).^[8] She is a retired real estate agent who raises goats in rural Bell County. Coincidentally, Buckley is her veterinarian.^[4]

Cosper owns Cosper Custom Homes and Construction Company and is the president of a real estate development business; the legislative seat is part-time. His wife, Christina R. "Christy" Cosper, is an educator. They couple has two daughters.^[9]