About Emily

As a 6th generation Texan, Emily spent most of her childhood in the small towns of Gonzales and Shiner. Growing up in communities rich in history, Emily began to appreciate from a young age the importance of preserving that history for future generations, and the wonderful culture and community felt only in places like small town Texas. Emily’s parents moved to Gillespie County while she was a freshman at Texas A&M University, so naturally Fredericksburg became her home nearly 20 years ago. 

Upon graduating from Texas A&M, Emily began working at the Texas Capitol in Austin in the House of Representatives. She was the Legislative Aide for then-Representative Dennis Bonnen of southern Brazoria County, and she helped residents navigate government services and understand the legislative process.

After a brief hiatus to help raise $9 million dollars to organize a community bank in Pearland, Emily moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked in the Field Operations Department of International Justice Mission, a non-profit human rights agency dedicated to eradicating slavery and child sexual exploitation in the developing world. While in D.C., she was active in the local Texas A&M Club (DC Aggies), serving as the Vice President of Activities. She also met her future husband, Tim, in DC and convinced him that Texas is indeed superior to all other states.

Texas eventually called her home, so Emily returned to Austin to lead legislative initiatives for then-freshman State Representative Lyle Larson from Bexar County. Rep. Larson served on the Natural Resources Committee, and as Legislative Director, Emily gained extensive experience in water and wastewater issues, traveling around the state to learn about the complexities of the State Water Plan and how communities endeavor to provide quality water to their residents. She also learned about the critical role tourism plays in Texas, as Rep. Larson served on the Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee.

Following the 81st Session, Emily transitioned to Chief of Staff to Rep. Ed Thompson, who represents northern Brazoria County. It was in this office that she gained expertise on transportation, land use, and environmental issues: Rep. Thompson served on the Transportation, Environmental Regulation, Land & Resource Management, and Special Purpose Districts Committees while Emily was Chief of Staff. She successfully completed her graduate degree at the LBJ School of Public Affairs while working full time for Rep. Thompson. Emily also completed the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Staff Academy and held leadership positions in a number of bill reading groups to assess a variety of bills and make voting recommendations for members of the Texas House.

In 2019, Tim was offered a job at Cameron-Brooks, a military officer recruiting firm based in Fredericksburg. The Kirchners were finally able to make Fredericksburg their permanent home and purchased a house in the South Heights neighborhood. Emily is currently the Vice President of Economic Development for Texas Regional Bank, where she cultivates and strengthens relationships with public sector customers in Central Texas. She also serves as a founding board member of the Fredericksburg Parks Foundation.

Emily’s experience in state government allows her to understand the tensions faced by a growing community, eager to provide for its residents while also longing to maintain the soul of the community. Her heart is to serve the residents of this city, and she uses her experience and expertise to help improve the lives of our families. 

Emily is the liaison between the City of Fredericksburg and the Gillespie County Commissioner's Court. She is a member of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, Council representative on the Gillespie County Eclipse Task Force, and a former Council liaison to the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center and the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.

Personal

  • Sixth Generation Texan

  • Married to Tim Kirchner, two children who attend Heritage School

  • Attends St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Education

  • K-12: homeschool, private, Catholic, and public school

  • Texas A&M University-College Station, B.A., major: communication; minor: anthropology

  • University of Texas at Austin, LBJ School of Government and Public Service: Executive Master’s in Public Leadership

  • George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service: hours completed toward Certificate in Advanced International Affairs

Civic & Community Activity

  • Fredericksburg Parks Foundation board member: 2023-present

  • Little Hearts Child Development Center board member: 2023-2024

  • St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Director of Children's Ministries: 2021-2024

  • Leadership Gillespie County – President, Class of 2022

  • City of Fredericksburg Planning and Zoning Commission Member: 2021-2022

  • Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) guardian ad litem: 2020-2021

  • Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS) table leader: 2019-2020

  • Honor Flight: Guardian on World War II flight from Austin to Washington, DC

  • U.S. Department of State – Management Intern at Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador