Rubal is a 44-year-plus Universal City resident who has worked as a college educator and a research physiologist. Seeking a second term, Rubal seeks to prioritize issues such as better meeting essential city needs, improving government transparency, improving city operations, and eliminating sole source contract practices and unnecessary permit fees.

Meet the candidates running in Garden Ridge, Kirby, Live Oak, Selma, Universal City

Bernard Rubal has worked as a college educator and a research physiologist.

Meet the candidates running in Garden Ridge, Kirby, Live Oak ...

2026 Texas General Election

Universal City Council approved a resolution establishing guidelines and criteria for tax abatement agreements July 15 by a 4-1 vote; Council member Bernard Rubal was the lone dissenting vote. Rubal said that while the resolution was a “footstep for things that may happen in the future,” it won’t be fair to businesses that won’t be eligible for abatements. “There can be tremendous gains, but there can also be tremendous losses with regards to revenue issues,” Rubal said.

Universal City approves tax abatement program for new, existing development

What is one thing you want the community to know about you?
I want our City to be transparent and better match tax resources with resident needs. Lower property taxes by establishing budget priorities and better use of sales tax revenues to offset needs for property tax increases.

Bernard Rubal for City Council

Realizing that not all change is progress and not all challenges can be overcome quickly, I am running because I feel our City can better prioritize tax revenues to address "our needs before our wants." There is a need for greater transparency and improvements in our City’s operations beginning with the budget review process, term limits, better district representation, and the elimination of sole source contract practices and unnecessary permit fees.

Voted against tax-abatement guidelines, citing fairness to businesses ineligible for abatements and potential revenue losses.

Plans to lower property taxes by setting budget priorities and using sales tax revenue to reduce the need for property tax increases.

Calls for more transparent city operations through budget review, term limits, district representation, and the elimination of sole-source contracts and unnecessary permit fees.

- Voted against tax-abatement guidelines, citing fairness to businesses ineligible for abatements and potential revenue losses.
- Plans to lower property taxes by setting budget priorities and using sales tax revenue to reduce the need for property tax increases.
- Calls for more transparent city operations through budget review, term limits, district representation, and the elimination of sole-source contracts and unnecessary permit fees.

Economy

As of September 24, 2026, Bernard Rubal’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Fence Ordinance Presentation: Councilmember Rubal moved to amend Ordinance 581-Y-2025 to preserve the concerns of the former Councils and simplify the definition of allowable fence repair to be "in-kind" repair and replacement. He stated that he felt there were arbitrary rules regarding the number of pickets allowed for repairs. The amendment would also reduce permit fees and remove some of the time burden for inspections for which the City contracts services. The motion failed, with Rubal and Councilmember Bulman voting yes.

First Term Actions | Bernard Rubal for City Council

What resources do you think Universal City is lacking?
We need to utilize our sales tax revenues to address basic service needs of our community without increases in property taxes. We need an effective street maintenance program. We must ensure that future development costs do not exceed our service capacity, and residents are spared from development costs.

Moved to allow in-kind fence repairs and replacement, reduce permit fees, and limit inspection burdens; the amendment failed.

Calls for future development not to exceed city service capacity or impose development costs on residents.

- Moved to allow in-kind fence repairs and replacement, reduce permit fees, and limit inspection burdens; the amendment failed.
- Calls for future development not to exceed city service capacity or impose development costs on residents.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

17 September 2024: Councilmember Rubal presented statistics that highlighted speeding on W. Byrd Blvd. After reminding Council of an item previously presented to them regarding traffic abatement using radar signs, he asked for consideration to place a discussion item at a future Council meeting for the consideration of placement of electronic traffic abatement signage on W. Byrd due to demonstrated need.

Asked the council to consider electronic traffic-abatement signs on West Byrd Boulevard because of speeding.

Calls for an effective street-maintenance program.

- Asked the council to consider electronic traffic-abatement signs on West Byrd Boulevard because of speeding.
- Calls for an effective street-maintenance program.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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Bernard Rubal

- Plans to lower property taxes by setting budget priorities and using sales tax revenue to reduce the need for property tax increases.
- Calls for more transparent city operations through budget review, term limits, district representation, and the elimination of sole-source contracts and unnecessary permit fees.

- Calls for future development not to exceed city service capacity or impose development costs on residents.

- Calls for an effective street-maintenance program.

Advocates using sales tax revenue for basic city services instead of raising property taxes.

Calls for ensuring that future development does not exceed the city's service capacity or shift development costs to residents.

Calls for an effective street maintenance program.

Mauricio Mendez

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Andy Garza III

Lori Putt

Mark Dunlop

- City council members collaborate to create and enforce city policies, including legislation on essential services like police, fire, parks, libraries, and utilities.
- They work alongside the mayor to manage city departments, including transportation and parks and recreation.
- Council members can be elected to represent specific districts or the entire city at-large.
- The structure of city councils, including the number of members, their terms, term limits, and partisanship, differs by county.

Passes laws and regulations for your city.