Rep. Bolton: Now with added opposition

Just when it looked like the GOP had given up on state rep seats in Austin, electoral newcomer Donna Keel has filed with the Travis County Republican Party to take back District 47 from Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin.

If that last name sounds a little familiar, it should. She’s the wife of Thornton Keel, who is brother of Terry Keel, who is Tom Craddick‘s parliamentarian and the former incumbent of … District 47. So, to recap, the sister-in-law of one of the chief consiglieres to the massively unpopular speaker is trying to knock down the winner of the prestigious Legislative Study Group’s Freshman of the Year award.

This article appears in December 28 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.