In 2006, when she ran an unsuccessful independent bid for governor, many Texans came to know her as “one tough grandma,” thanks to the tagline on her campaign ads.
But when 85-year-old Carol Keeton passed away Wednesday, many headlines also remembered her as a political trailblazer, best known across the state as Carol Keeton Strayhorn, the first woman to serve as Texas comptroller and as Austin mayor.
Mark Rose knew Keaton when he was a member of Austin City Council in the 1980s. He was also CEO of the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
He credits Keeton with giving his career an early start. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.
This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:
Texas Standard: She certainly had an outsized personality, that’s for sure. But “one tough grandma” – how does that square with a person that you knew?
Mark Rose: Well, it does. She certainly earned that in her later life. But, as you mentioned, I also saw her as someone who… You know, the series of firsts for a woman is so much more than what I think a lot of people really knew.
I mean I first met her when I was 21 years old and she put me on the Austin Parks and Recreation Board, which started my career in many ways. And I’m not alone as someone that Carole helped get started.
That’s really interesting. Of course, Austin City Council seats are nonpartisan, though, as mayor, known then as Carole Keaton McClellan. I think a lot of people would describe her as more on the moderate to conservative side of Austin politics.
How did she navigate differences with her famously progressive colleagues?
Well, I mean she was always just about Austin. Carole’s history in Austin is as deep as the city itself in many ways, with her father [Paige Keeton] having his history at the law school.
And that’s one thing, especially back in those years, Austin was a very isolated community. It was much, much different in its politics. And if you served in Austin, you really was just about focusing on Austin, as a community.
Now she wasn’t without challenging folks and opening doors, but she was just quintessentially Austin.
After her time as mayor, I know she entered statewide Republican politics, and this was at a time when the GOP was really picking up considerable steam in what had been, up to that point, a mostly Democratic Texas. I’d imagine she’d need to call on some of that toughness to thrive in that sort of environment.
Well, she was, but I mean, I feel like she was heavily recruited to do that. I mean, it was at a time when the party wasn’t what it is today.
I mean it, surprised some folks when she did that, but it made sense for her. And that’s what Carole was really all about. I mean, if she saw a path, or if she saw something that she was going to do, she didn’t really consider the consequences as what other people might think about it as much as what she thought she could do in that moment with that opportunity that she had.
So it wasn’t so much party first as it was getting things done first.
No question about it.
I mean, I think that especially came true when she was the controller. She did a great job there. She did it her way. She did openly and unabashedly Carole, not as a Republican.
And I think she would have been the same way if she had stayed and spent her career in the Democratic Party. Carole wasn’t going to be anything but Carole, which is what I think made it such a natural for people to see her as one tough grandma.
I know her four sons were at the center of her life and some of them followed her into politics. Can you tell us something about Carole Keaton as a mom?
Well, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Scott and I didn’t know his brothers, but I did have the opportunity to work wit Scott and let’s just say they loved their mama.
