GRASSROOTS CAREER

The spring 2014 Govt. 2306 class ended tonight after 15 weeks of enlightenment about the workings of government and political structure in the State of Texas. Upon entering the south campus and heading to class, it was obvious tonight was not going to be a usual green book final exam night when we were ushered into the conference room where coffee, water, and pound cake were waiting at the far end of the table. Standing at the head of the long table was a stately silver haired woman elegantly dressed and with a very calming yet confident voice, visiting with Professor Brink and Dean Arthur James, Director of North Lake College South Campus. After the short conversation with the Dean, Professor Brink announced that the Honorable Gwyn Shea would be joining our class for the evening to answer questions about Texas Government

Professor Brink opened the evening by introducing Ms. Shea as a former State Representative to Austin from the Irving district. Professor Brink started the conversation by asking Ms. Shea how she got her start in politics. Ms. Shea began her story in 1967 when she heard a new voice on a TV commercial that was running for a U.S. Congressional seat from Irving. She stated that she liked his energy and style, so she went to hear him speak live a few nights later at a political rally. Completely inspired by the speech and the speaker, she volunteered to help with the Congressional campaign. With three school-age children in tow, Ms. Shea began to organize neighborhood walks, yard signs, and mailer committees for the campaign. By the next election cycle, Ms. Shea, through her networking, communication, and organizational skills, was managing the Congressional campaign. Redistricting in 1971 caused the district to move partly into Dallas, and Ms. Shea said she did not want to take on new neighborhoods in Dallas, so she went to work as a part time secretary for the local State Legislator from Irving who had just opened the first local constituent office for the 98^th legislative district.

Ms. Shea said that usually in politics, a volunteer job turns into a part-time job, which turns into a full-time job, and this time was no exception. By the mid-1970s, Ms. Shea was not only running the local office in Irving, she was also spending each legislative session in Austin helping with committee and organizing, legislative work. In 1981 the current State Legislator decided to slow down and retire from active politics. Naturally, the local party convinced Ms. Shea that she was a natural fit for the job especially since she had spent the better part of a decade in committee work and providing support and research for the current legislator and already knew how the system worked. Ms. Shea served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1982 through 1992. Redistricting in 1991 cut her district up and she lost in a primary runoff election by a small margin of votes.

While wondering what she was going to do next the phone rang one day and the local party wanted her to finish out the Constables term because he had passed away unexpectedly. There was a small interruption as the new Dean of Liberal Arts Shawnda Floyd at south campus introduced herself poured a cup of water and joined the conference. Ms. Shea went on that her first thought was, why in the world would I do that? After giving the proposal some thought, she said that she had been a part of making laws for so long that this would be good to see those laws in practical application. So naturally, she said yes and accepted the offer. By the next election cycle, she had been through the police academy and had her peace officers license. Ms. Shea said that her license is current and she test’s, on the gun range every year and usually has one of the highest scores in her group. The other students around the conference table looked astonished for a moment to think that this little stately woman at the end of the table was probably armed and an excellent shot. While collecting more than a million dollars in hot check restitution a year for her constituents she became a respected member of local law enforcement. Life was good when the phone rang again in November of 2001.

Governor Rick Perry was on the phone and wanted Ms. Shea to become the 103 Secretary of State to the great State of Texas. Inaugurated on January 7, 2002 Ms. Shea served as Secretary of State until August of 2003. As Secretary of State, she met with many foreign dignitaries as there are over 85 foreign consulates in the state and the Secretary of State is the forward liaison to all dignitaries having business with the state. She told several stories of interesting and fascinating people she met during her tenor in the SOS office and gave us a great history lesson of the office in regards to the furnishings within the office. The Governor would not let her go completely because in retirement, he appointed her to the Board of Regents at University of North Texas and she was elected to the Baylor Health Care System Board of Trustees.

Both of these positions are once again part time, however Ms. Shea stated they both take up about two and a half weeks a month in meetings and preparation. As I looked around the table, my classmates were sitting in astonishment at the story that poured from this stately little woman. A 50 year career in public service that all began because she volunteered for a dynamic speaker who just happen to be running for public office in 1968. The girls were especially receptive and inquisitive with questions of her career and I could see in their eyes the possibilities that they too could embark on such a journey. Ms. Shea engaged the other two men at the table in her experiences traveling throughout Europe, the Middle East where they had both been. Then the conversation turned to education with Dean Floyd and Professor Brink everyone agreeing to the importance of a liberal arts degree. What an enlightening and enjoyable evening. Every semester should end on such a high note, anyone who missed this class really missed out.

Since the third grade, I have felt like I was racing my mother to school. She was always involved in every class and activity. I have always known I had some of the best projects and ideas, and my grades generally showed that I did. Those projects were hatched, nurtured, and steered in the proper direction by my mother. When I was in the fourth grade, my classmates wanted my mother to be the room mother because she thought of great things to do and made the best scratch cakes and cookies. In High School, all my football mates wanted to eat at my house on Friday before games because of my mother’s scratch cooking and subtle reassurance that we were prepared for the task at hand, regardless of who we were playing. Now in my University life, I can bask in the accomplishments of my mother’s grassroots career as she was invited to address my Texas Government class on the last night of school this spring of 2014. WOW!!!! Thanks MOM

Bobby Clarkston 05/30/2014

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