KYLE CITY COUNCIL
After the Kyle City Council meeting was cancelled on Tuesday, July 15, Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell took to social media to post that it was due to a bomb threat received by the Kyle Police Department that was “credible enough for us to recess our meeting.” In that same post, he announced that he will be stepping down from his position as mayor.
“At approximately 6:53 p.m., the department received a call claiming a bomb had been placed beneath a nearby vehicle,” the city of Kyle said in a statement. “The caller also stated they were armed and intended to shoot officers as they arrived. Officers already on site for the meeting immediately began evacuating and securing the building while conducting a thorough search of the premises. No credible threats or suspicious items were found.”
The city stated that investigators believe that the bomb threat was an incident of “swatting,” which involves making a false emergency report with the intent of prompting a heavy police or Special Weapons and Tactics response.
Mitchell stated in his Facebook post that he was going to make an important announcement at the meeting, which he decided to share “with you now anyway.”
“Today, I’m announcing that I will be stepping down as mayor this November — one year before the end of my final term. I’m sharing this now, per the City Charter, to ensure that council has the necessary time to call a special election. That election — for a one-year mayoral term — will run concurrently with the District 1 and District 3 council races this November,” Mitchell stated. “Our council and staff have worked collaboratively for most of my tenure, and we have much to show for it. … That was my goal — to help Kyle reach this point — and I step down with confidence in our long-term position in the region.”
Mitchell added that “it’s time to return to working in the private sector.”
“Serving as mayor has been deeply meaningful, but it has also meant putting other parts of my life on hold — including personal goals, professional opportunities, and longterm financial stability,” Mitchell stated. “This next chapter will allow me to focus on those areas again and apply what I’ve learned in public life to new challenges and ventures.”
Mitchell added that he was proud to leave the position while believing that “Kyle’s best days are still ahead.”
The city council meeting was recessed until July 16 at 7 p.m., and the city stated that there would be additional law enforcement on site.
