Kevin has a great track record in serving our city. As Mayor of Pearland, he has the vision and background to take our city into the future.
A STRATEGIC PLANNER FOR MAYOR
Strategic planning is Kevin’s biggest asset. He takes on a project and can plan it out: thinking ahead is crucial in his business. It will also be a huge asset in leading the City Council as Mayor.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Kevin Cole, 55, was born in Lubbock, Texas to Jesse and Retta Cole and is the youngest of 4 boys.
Kevin grew up playing youth sports, which included baseball, basketball, and soccer. There were times when all three were played on the same day instilling his competitive drive at a very early age.
Kevin’s dad was transferred to Houston in 1977 and they chose to make Pearland, TX their home. They became members of First Baptist Church a week after moving to Pearland. Kevin was very active in all of the Church’s children and youth programs.
He attended Pearland Intermediate School, now known as Jr. High East, where he played football and basketball for the Roughnecks.
While at Pearland High School, he lettered in football and baseball for the Oilers, and was also a member of the PHS choir. Kevin graduated #8 in his class in 1983 with highest honors and was a member of the National Honor Society.
During the summer, Kevin worked for T. G. & Y warehouse filling orders, loading and unloading trucks. Year round, Kevin could be seen cutting the grass on the warehouse grounds, continuing through his college years.
In the fall of 1983, Kevin enrolled at Texas Tech University. He earned scholarships working with Texas Tech Football as an equipment manager. The scholarships were helpful in paying for his education. Being involved with the football program allowed him to be a part of something he loved. College football is a passion for Kevin even to this day.
He graduated from Tech in 1988 with a BA in Marketing and a minor in Public Relations.
While attending Texas Tech, Kevin’s parents were transferred back to Lubbock, where they later retired. However, Kevin chose to plant his roots in Pearland.
Married for 56 years, Kevin’s parents were and remain the biggest influences in his life. Kevin’s mom passed away from cancer in 2003 and his father moved back to Pearland in 2006 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Kevin became his dad’s primary caregiver and found great joy in caring for his father in the last years of his life. Kevin’s dad passed away in 2009.
BUSINESS CAREER
Kevin went to work for the Kroger Co as a Co-Manager after graduating from Texas Tech. Kevin developed management skills solving complex issues. He quickly learned how to manage an annual budget of $20M.
Kevin left Kroger and became the Southeast Texas rep for a small sales company based in Austin, TX. When he took over the territory, it had approximately $250,000 in annual sales and grew to over $1,000,000 in 6 years.
Kevin later became an agent for Prudential focusing on group benefits and dealing with business owners and their employees. In 2004 he became an independent agent and created The Benefits Connection.
During this time, watching the development process became a passion for Kevin. He enjoyed watching the process of a piece of raw land become something. Kevin developed skills in how to select property for certain types of developments. So around the year 2000, Kevin started doing some consulting work on real estate development projects around the Houston area in addition to his group benefits business.
Kevin went through the real estate collapse in 2008 and was able to survive. It was difficult but he came through the downturn in 2012. Kevin has had successful projects around the Greater Houston area. Currently, Kevin is involved in developing 143 acres in northeast Houston. He also is working on a 128 acre development site in Alvin. Kevin has a 20 acre real estate holding in northeast Harris county in the Huffman area.
Kevin’s development bio and projects can be seen in more detail at www.covematrix.com.
In the 20 years of working in the real estate development industry, Kevin has been involved in either developing or consulting on 6500 residential developed lots that results in $1.7B in private capital investment.
A PASSION FOR LOCAL POLITICS
Kevin’s passion for being involved in the local politics started in 1992. Kevin was appointed to the City of Pearland Planning & Zoning Commission in 1994.
Kevin then ran for City Council in 1995 and was successful. He served a single term to 1998. Kevin will tell you his biggest accomplishment while on Council was being a part of a Council that secured long-term water rights for the City.
Kevin made the decision to run for City Council again in 2004 and was elected. He served 2 terms ending in May 2010. Kevin had several major accomplishments during this time.
- Cowart’s Creek diversion project was an item he ran on and was able to make it a part of the 2007 bond program. Today, it is complete and will help a large area of the City’s drainage.
- The Lower Kirby area has developed because the Council made the decision to focus on a market-based approach to the area. Kevin was able to utilize the skills as a real estate developer and help lead the Council to perform a market analysis followed by a market-based land plan. This led to rezoning the area based on the market and the Lower Kirby area finally took off. The City had become the de facto developer in that area by putting in the infrastructure, but the zoning really was difficult to deal with. So the City needed to act like a developer in performing this.
- The City was successful in the 2007 bond program election. This was the largest program in the City’s history and covered roads, drainage, fire stations, parks, and the natatorium/rec center. When the real estate economy collapsed in Sept 2008, parts of the bond program were able to be implemented quicker. Several roads were moved up to take advantage of better pricing.
He was elected Mayor of Pearland on November 3, 2020.
THE GREATER 288 PARTNERSHIP
During this time on City Council, the City had a goal to see SH 288 get widened. The growth in the area was putting pressure on the corridor. But the project was heavily dependent on Harris County to the north. Harris County had 288 listed as its #2 priority behind 290 for years. But that was changing. Harris County didn’t see the need to address 288 and it was falling off their priority list.
As Kevin was rolling off City Council in 2010, he and a fellow Council member decided to create an advocacy group to help push for the funding and construction to get SH 288 done. In March 2010, the Greater 288 Partnership was born. Its primary mission was to advocate for transportation projects in the area and specifically SH 288.
The organization was made up of Counties, Cities, and businesses. These ranged from the Texas Medical Center to Port Freeport. The membership grew to over 80. The organization held quarterly lunch meetings and hosted speakers ranging from the Harris County Judge, to the Mayor of Houston, and the Executive Director of TxDOT.
The Greater 288 Partnership also held a 288 Day in Austin to go and specifically speak to State officials about 288. All along the way both Brazoria County and the City of Pearland participated.
Ultimately TxDOT took control of the Harris County portion of the project and the project finally had life. The Brazoria County officials were always ready to go on their portion, but without the Harris County part, it just didn’t make any sense.
The construction is scheduled to be complete in mid-2020.
It’s a great lesson in what can happen when people and organizations come together for a common purpose.
FAMILY
Kevin’s wife, Lisa, is a life-long Pearlander. Kevin often tells people that while he is not native to Pearland, he did the next best thing and married one. Kevin and Lisa met at First Baptist Church and married in December 1987. Lisa is also a graduate of Pearland High School, Class of 1987.
Kevin and Lisa have four children, all grown adults today:
- Cameron is married to Sarah and they have 3 children. Unfortunately they also lost a child in Oct 2018.
- Chase is married to Rachel. They have 2 children.
- Cody is married to Misty. They have 2 children with another due in April 2021.
- Katelyn, with a boyfriend.
Kevin's Resume
Public Service
- 2020 - present: Mayor of Pearland
- 2004 - 2010: Served on Pearland City Council, Position 5
- 1995-1998: Served on Pearland City Council, Position 5
- 1994-1995: Served as Commissioner on Planning and Zoning Commission
Economic Development
- Past-Chairman of Board and Co-Founder of Greater 288 Partnership
- Past Board Member – Northern Brazoria County Education Alliance
- Pearland Chamber of Commerce Board Member
- Served on Citizen's Advisory Committee for the Clear Creek Project
- Served on the Pearland Area Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure Committee
- Chairman of the Chamber 518 Ad Hoc Committee
- Appointed by Congressman Pete Olson to serve on TX Dist 22 Service Academy Selection Committee
- Current President and Board Member of Towne Lake Estate HOA
Volunteer Service
- Past Board President - Heritage Christian Academy
- Past-Chairman of the Board – Vic Coppinger Family YMCA, Pearland
- Served as member to the Forgotten Angels Golf Tournament Committee
- Serving as the current “King” for the Pearland Neighborhood Center annual King/Queen fund raising ball
Personal
- Resident of Pearland for 42 years
- Pearland High School graduate - 1983
- Texas Tech University graduate - Marketing - 1988
- Principal, Cove Matrix Development, real estate development
- Kevin and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 32 years and have 4 children; Cameron – 30, Chase – 29, Cody – 27, and Katelyn - 24
- Kevin and Lisa are proud grandparents to 7 grandchildren
- Member of Crosspoint Church, Pearland