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'''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.

'''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.

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.<refname=kdh/>

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 position in 2016, 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 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 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 was forced into a runoff election on May 22 with fellow Republican Bradley Leo "Brad" Buckley (born September 14, 1966), 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.<ref name=kdh/>

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 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.<ref name=kdh/>