Leah Kaufman for Kyle City Council – District 4 – 2026

Leah Kaufman

How can voters contact you?

Campaign Website: kaufmanforkyle.com
Campaign Email -info@kaufmanforkyle.com
Social Media - Facebook

 

1. Tell us about your background, including your education, employment, leadership experience, and community involvement relevant to the position.

I have spent more than 15 years working in nonprofit public policy, where my job is to bring people with different perspectives together, navigate complicated policy and budget questions, and turn good ideas into solutions that can actually be implemented. Today, I serve as Vice President of Public Policy for a national nonprofit organization, leading policy work across multiple states and working with elected officials, government agencies, advocates, and community partners across the political spectrum.

My husband is a firefighter/paramedic, and we are raising our family here in Kyle. Over the past seven years, I have tried to contribute to the kind of community I want my children to inherit. I started a Family Nature Club, founded the Big Book Give, have helped organize neighborhood activities, volunteered throughout our community, and regularly participate in local civic issues.

I also previously worked as an EMT, an experience that reinforced for me the importance of strong public services and the people who provide them.

I believe local government works best when leaders listen carefully, understand the details, treat people with respect, and remain focused on solving problems rather than scoring political points. Those are the skills and values I would bring to City Council.

 

2. Imagine it’s 2030—you are wrapping up your three-year term as mayor/city council member. You feel you successfully achieved your priorities. What does Kyle look like? What has changed? What has stayed the same?

In 2030, I want Kyle to have grown without losing the things that made people choose to call it home.

Growth is better coordinated with infrastructure. Roads, water, parks, trails, sidewalks and public safety have kept pace with new development. Residents can safely walk or bike between more neighborhoods, schools, parks and businesses. We have protected and expanded our tree canopy and created more shade in public spaces. Families have places to gather, seniors can remain connected to their community, and residents who cannot or do not drive have better options for getting around.

I also want residents to have greater confidence in City Hall. Decisions should be understandable, finances sustainable, and residents should feel they have meaningful opportunities to participate before major decisions are made.

What hasn't changed is equally important: Kyle should still feel like a community rather than simply a collection of subdivisions. Growth is inevitable. Losing our sense of place is not.

 

3. The City of Kyle went into 2026 with a $14 million budget deficit. What is your budgeting mindset when it comes to city finances?

My starting point is that government has an obligation to live within its means and to be transparent with taxpayers about both current spending and long-term commitments.

 

I would prioritize core services and existing obligations first, scrutinize recurring expenses particularly carefully, and distinguish between things that are nice to have and things residents truly depend upon. At the same time, responsible budgeting isn't simply cutting everything. Delaying maintenance or infrastructure can ultimately cost taxpayers more.

Kyle's rapid growth makes long-range forecasting especially important. Council should understand not just what something costs this year, but what it will cost to operate, maintain and staff five or ten years from now.

My approach would be disciplined, transparent and focused on long-term value rather than short-term fixes.

4. Texas law requires local law enforcement to cooperate with federal ICE officers. City government can limit the extent of that cooperation. Please explain where you believe appropriate limits should be.

The City should comply with state and federal law while keeping local public-safety resources focused on protecting Kyle residents.

Within whatever discretion state law provides, I do not believe local resources should be unnecessarily diverted from local public-safety responsibilities. It is also important that every resident feel able to report a crime, call 911, serve as a witness, or seek help without unnecessary fear.

As a council member, I would expect any policy in this area to be developed in consultation with our police leadership and legal counsel, comply fully with applicable law, protect constitutional rights and due process, and clearly define the appropriate role of local law enforcement.

 

5. Do you support the use of surveillance cameras like Flock in your city? Why or why not?

I have deep reservations about the expansion of automated surveillance technology without strong safeguards, and I believe Flock Safety in particular warrants careful scrutiny.

Automated license plate readers can provide legitimate investigative benefits, but the question isn't simply whether the technology can help solve crimes. We also have to ask what information is collected, how long it is retained, who can access it, how it can be shared, whether searches are routinely audited, and what happens when technology or human judgment gets something wrong.

Those concerns are not hypothetical. Flock's systems have faced documented controversies involving improper access and data sharing, misuse by individual law-enforcement personnel, and questions about how much control local governments retain over information collected in their communities. That record would make me particularly cautious about expanding Kyle's relationship with Flock without a thorough review of both the technology and the company behind it.

If Kyle uses automated license plate readers, I believe they should be subject to strict guardrails: minimal data retention, narrowly defined permissible uses, strong access controls, routine independent audits, public reporting, appropriate warrant and legal-process requirements, and meaningful consequences for misuse. The City should also regularly evaluate the ethics, security practices, contractual terms, and data-sharing policies of any private company entrusted with residents' information. If a vendor cannot meet those standards, Kyle should be willing to choose another provider or not use the technology at all.

Public safety and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive. Good policy should protect both, and surveillance technology should never be adopted or continued, simply because it is available.

 

6. How will you ensure that underserved areas and populations receive the services they need?

Equity begins with looking at outcomes rather than assuming that providing the same thing everywhere produces the same result.

 

Council should routinely examine where infrastructure investments and city services are going and identify neighborhoods that have historically received less investment. That includes sidewalks, parks, shade, drainage, transportation access and other basic infrastructure.

 

We also need to make participation easier. Not everyone can attend a Tuesday evening council meeting or navigate a complicated city process. I support meeting residents where they are through neighborhood outreach, accessible communications, partnerships with trusted community organizations, and multiple ways to provide input.

 

I would pay particular attention to residents who face barriers because of income, age, disability, transportation or language. A growing city succeeds when opportunity and quality city services extend throughout the community.

 

7. Kyle City Council recently approved a series of forensic audits. Kyle already performs annual audits to ensure council and staff are following all applicable rules. Do you support conducting these additional forensic audits?

I support strong financial oversight and transparency, but I have reservations about committing taxpayer dollars to a series of additional forensic audits without a clearly demonstrated need.

Kyle already undergoes an independent annual financial audit and has undertaken an independent risk assessment to identify areas where additional internal auditing and stronger controls may be warranted. Particularly at a time when the City is making difficult budget decisions, I believe we should use those existing oversight mechanisms effectively before committing significant additional resources to broad forensic investigations.

A forensic audit can absolutely be appropriate when credible evidence or a specific financial irregularity warrants deeper investigation. If such evidence emerges, I would support a targeted, independent review with a clearly defined scope.

Accountability matters, but so does responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Audits should be used to answer specific questions and correct identified problems not simply because conducting more audits creates the appearance of greater accountability.

 

8. Do you support a City of Kyle Pride Celebration?

Yes.