Outgoing Kyle City Council member Daphne Tenorio posed with a plaque honoring her service. With here are (from left) Council member Dex Ellison, Mayor Pro Tem Rick Koch, Council member Tracy Scheel, Mayor Travis Mitchell, Council member Robert Rizo and Council member Alex Villalobos.
Michael Tobias was sworn in to the Kyle City Council representing District 6 on Feb. 4. He won the seat in a special election Jan. 25 to replace Daphne Tenorio, who had resigned her seat in order to pursue the Democratic nomination for Hays County Treasurer.
Tobias was sworn in by County Judge Ruben Becerra while the new councilman’s wife Teresa looked on.
“You’ve got big shoes to fill,” Mayor Travis Mitchell told Tobias in the moments before he was sworn in. Mitchell called the council a “fast-acting group that likes to make an impact” on the city. “I’ve watched you campaign — you have a similar mindset,” he said.
Adding Tobias to the council is “adding another ally, another partner in this process whether we agree on everything or not,” Mitchell concluded.
Given the microphone, Tobias thanked his supporters and family and vowed to serve the city of Kyle.
“My family has been in this area for so many years and one of the things my father and my mother always instilled in me was service and love for your fellow man,” he said. “I grew up here, I worship here and my children go to school here.”
Tobias said he wanted to tell the city of Kyle and his constituents in District 6, “I will do my best to provide service for you and provide for you.” When it comes to the council, he said, “I’m all about the team … we’re going to do some amazing things.”
Prior to the swearing in, council members expressed their thanks to Tenorio for her service.
“Five years in office is a considerable time,” Mitchell said. “It takes a special person to give that much of their life in service to their city.”
Mitchell noted that Tenorio had “worked diligently to make sure your citizens were represented,” and said she had been a “valuable contributor to this body.”
Council member Alex Villalobos thanked Tenorio for “keeping us grounded” and for “just doing the right thing.”
“Your constitution is strong, your backbone is one of the strongest,” he said. “You will do things right regardless of whether anybody is looking or not.”
Mayor Pro Tem Robert Rizo noted all Tenorio has done for the city and added, “Your service comes from the heart.”
“It’s been a pleasure serving with you and I’ve learned a lot from you,” Council member Rick Koch, whose seat on the dais is next to Tenorio’s, said to her.
Tenorio kept her own remarks short. “Five years flew by,” she said. “I thank staff for being overwhelmingly supportive even though sometimes I can be a little abrasive.”
To Tobias, she said, “Michael, I know you will lead from the heart.”
