Public service means leaving things better than we found them. In 1991, I blazed a trail as the first female mayor of Fort Worth. Today, Mattie Parker leads the nation’s 13th largest city.
In the six years Mattie served on my congressional staff, she completed law school, had her first son, and adopted her daughter. It was clear then that she was a force. Besides serving next as chief of staff to the former mayor, she started a nonprofit to help students thrive.
Now mayor at 38, she builds consensus for a safer and stronger Fort Worth, nurtures thriving families (including her own), and fosters quality of life in every ZIP code.
I wrote a book called What’s Right About America, on our founding leaders. Today, what’s right about America are next-generation leaders like Mattie, who learn from diversity, do the hard work of good governance, and carry the torch.
Granger, a Republican, is a Congresswoman for Texas
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
