In 2006, when she ran an unsuccessful impartial bid for governor, many Texans got here to know her as “one robust grandma,” because of the tagline on her marketing campaign adverts.
However when 85-year-old Carol Keeton passed away Wednesday, many headlines additionally remembered her as a political trailblazer, finest recognized throughout the state as Carol Keeton Strayhorn, the primary girl to function Texas comptroller and as Austin mayor.
Mark Rose knew Keaton when he was a member of Austin Metropolis Council within the Eighties. He was additionally CEO of the Decrease Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electrical Cooperative.
He credit Keeton with giving his profession an early begin. Hearken to the interview above or learn the transcript under.
This transcript has been edited evenly for readability:
Texas Normal: She actually had an outsized character, that’s for positive. However “one robust grandma” – how does that sq. with an individual that you just knew?
Mark Rose: Nicely, it does. She actually earned that in her later life. However, as you talked about, I additionally noticed her as somebody who… , the sequence of firsts for a girl is a lot greater than what I believe lots of people actually knew.
I imply I first met her after I was 21 years previous and he or she put me on the Austin Parks and Recreation Board, which began my profession in some ways. And I’m not alone as somebody that Carole helped get began.
That’s actually fascinating. In fact, Austin Metropolis Council seats are nonpartisan, although, as mayor, recognized then as Carole Keaton McClellan. I believe lots of people would describe her as extra on the average to conservative aspect of Austin politics.
How did she navigate variations along with her famously progressive colleagues?
Nicely, I imply she was at all times nearly Austin. Carole’s historical past in Austin is as deep as town itself in some ways, along with her father [Paige Keeton] having his historical past at the law school.
And that’s one factor, particularly again in these years, Austin was a really remoted neighborhood. It was a lot, a lot completely different in its politics. And should you served in Austin, you actually was nearly specializing in Austin, as a neighborhood.
Now she wasn’t with out difficult people and opening doorways, however she was simply quintessentially Austin.
After her time as mayor, I do know she entered statewide Republican politics, and this was at a time when the GOP was actually choosing up appreciable steam in what had been, as much as that time, a principally Democratic Texas. I’d think about she’d must name on a few of that toughness to thrive in that kind of surroundings.
Nicely, she was, however I imply, I really feel like she was closely recruited to do this. I imply, it was at a time when the social gathering wasn’t what it’s at the moment.
I imply it, stunned some people when she did that, nevertheless it made sense for her. And that’s what Carole was actually all about. I imply, if she noticed a path, or if she noticed one thing that she was going to do, she didn’t actually think about the implications as what different individuals would possibly give it some thought as a lot as what she thought she may do in that second with that chance that she had.
So it wasn’t a lot social gathering first because it was getting issues completed first.
No query about it.
I imply, I believe that particularly got here true when she was the controller. She did an ideal job there. She did it her means. She did overtly and unabashedly Carole, not as a Republican.
And I believe she would have been the identical means if she had stayed and spent her profession within the Democratic Celebration. Carole wasn’t going to be something however Carole, which is what I believe made it such a pure for individuals to see her as one robust grandma.
I do know her 4 sons had been on the middle of her life and a few of them adopted her into politics. Are you able to inform us one thing about Carole Keaton as a mother?
Nicely, I’ve had the chance to work with Scott and I didn’t know his brothers, however I did have the chance to work wit Scott and let’s simply say they liked their mama.
