Downtown Depot: Mayor Kyle Deaver

In the premiere episode of "Downtown Depot: Tracking the Ins and Outs of Waco Business," our host Austin Meek visits with the Mayor of Waco, Kyle Deaver.

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"My parents grew up here, I grew up here...I've been able to watch the city grow, and prosper, and change over...the last five years, has just been remarkable. It's the kind of thing that you always hope for as you're growing up here and you see the potential, and now we're able to see some of it being realized. And that's just a very exciting time for Waco."

"I'll say that I've always loved Waco. I've always felt like Waco was a great place to live and a great place to raise a family."

"There have been many people who have laid the groundwork for [Downtown Waco's designation as a Cultural Arts District] over many, many years...and I'm so proud of our community and the way they've pulled together to make that happen. I think we will see just tremendous benefits from that over the next several years, being able to attract talent and grant money."

"There's no question and everybody says it: Waco and Baylor are inextricably linked. When good things happen at Baylor, it's good for Waco, and when good thing happen in Waco, it's good for Baylor. We are working right now to find things that are goals for both Baylor and Waco that we can work together on strategically."

"I hope that one of the legacies that I will leave is that we will have a stronger engagement across racial ties. I just want Waco to be all that it can be, and I think we've got so many great people that are working on it and that are excited about, and I don't think there are any limits to what we can do."

Deaver was elected Mayor on May 9, 2016 after serving on the City Council for four years. A local attorney and businessman, he has served on the boards of the Cameron Park Zoological Society, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, Vanguard College Preparatory School and St. Paul's Episcopal Day School and as a member of the Waco Plan Commission for six years. He attended Baylor University for both undergraduate school, majoring in business, and for law school.