Leadership and Legacy: Kristin Stevens on the Future of Round Rock

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kristin Stevens and how is she connected to Round Rock's civic history?

Kristin Stevens is Round Rock's Mayor Pro Tem and a City Council member, as well as the daughter of longtime civic leader Charlie Culpepper. She grew up delivering Blue Santa with her dad, doing Meals on Wheels with her mom, and attending Frontier Days and the Sandbass Shootout. Her episode marks the first time the podcast has hosted the daughter of a former guest.

Why did Stevens leave her healthcare career for public service?

Stevens spent 22 years as a speech pathologist working with children, but when she was elected to City Council she felt she could not deliver patient care at 110% while also serving the city. Rather than let one role suffer, she retired from healthcare and transitioned into a career, real estate, that gave her the flexibility to serve fully.

What is the story behind the first engagement at Dell Diamond?

After Round Rock voters passed a hotel-motel tax to fund the stadium, Stevens' then-boyfriend proposed to her on Good Friday at the inaugural Friday night fireworks game, coordinating a heart-shaped fireworks display through a contact with the pyrotechnics provider. The couple will celebrate 25 years of marriage, roughly 26 years after the proposal. Her youngest son now works as a parking lot attendant for the Round Rock Express.

How does Stevens approach misinformation about council decisions?

Stevens says it requires "thick skin" and direct conversation. She described a friend sending her an Instagram reel late at night with inaccurate claims about a public comment ordinance, prompting Stevens to call and walk her through the facts. She contrasts keyboard mob mentality with sitting across a table over coffee, which she says takes down walls quickly.

What advice does Stevens give newcomers who want to get involved in Round Rock?

She urges people to first simply get out of the house, attend Music on Main, Market Days, festivals, or volunteer for efforts like Will Williams' holiday food drives. For deeper service, she cautions being strategic and finding your passion rather than raising your hand for everything, because service can easily get diluted once the community finds you.

How does Stevens describe Round Rock's growth and its "secret sauce"?

Stevens notes Round Rock has grown from fewer than 5,000 residents in the 1970s to nearly 150,000, within the fastest growing county in the country. She credits leaders like her father for dreaming big while staying realistic, and points to a welcoming, diverse culture that accepts conservatives and liberals as neighbors as the community's economic and social secret sauce.

What is the easiest way for residents to reach Stevens or other council members?

Stevens says to simply call her, noting her phone number appears on real estate signs across town and that she answers her phone. Email works too. She emphasizes that all seven council members are accessible and welcome meeting with constituents, echoing a lesson she learned from Charlie Culpepper about staying present in the community every day.