Changes

| office=Texas State Representative for<br> District 54<br> (Bell and Lampasas counties)

| office=Texas State Representative for<br> District 54<br> (Bell and Lampasas counties)

| term_start= January 10, 2017

| term_start= January 10, 2017

| term_end=  

| term_end=January 2019 (pending)

| preceded=Jimmie Don Aycock

| preceded=Jimmie Don Aycock

| succeeded=  

| succeeded=  

| website=[http://scottcosper.com http://scottcosper.com]

| website=[http://scottcosper.com http://scottcosper.com]

}}

}}

'''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 [[Republican Party|Republican]] 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 2016.

'''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]] 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 2016.

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>

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>

To win the state House position, Cosper 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=November 8, 2016|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref>  

To win the state House position, Cosper 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=November 8, 2016|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref>  

In his bid for a second term in 2018, Cosper faces a runoff election on May 22 with fellow Republican Brad Buckley. Cosper led a 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 will be critical in the runoff election. 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 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> Cosper or Buckley will face Sandra Blankenship, who is again seeking the state House seat on the Democratic ticket in the November 6 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/VoteSandraBlankenship/|title=Sandra Blankenship|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref>

In his bid for a second term in 2018, Cosper was forced into a runoff election on May 22 with fellow Republican Brad Buckley. Cosper led a 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 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://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 eliminated, Buckley now faces Sandra Blankenship, who is once again seeking the state House seat on the Democratic ticket in the November 6 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/VoteSandraBlankenship/|title=Sandra Blankenship|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scottcosper.com|title=Scott Cosper|publisher=scottcosper.com|accessdate=January 19, 2017}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scottcosper.com|title=Scott Cosper|publisher=scottcosper.com|accessdate=January 19, 2017}}</ref>