Donna Keel Files Against Valinda Bolton in HD-47

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 04:54 PM CST

Donna Keel, the sister-in-law of former state Rep. Terry Keel, has filed as a Republican for House District 47.

Keel, who's married to Thornton Keel, Terry's brother, obviously hopes to use the family name to recapture the seat. District 47 includes southwestern Travis County.

Rep. Valinda Bolton, an Austin Democrat, won a long, expensive campaign in 2006 after Terry Keel retired from the Texas House. Terry Keel now serves as House parliamentarian.

Anyone want to guess whether the "Keel" name has the same sterling benefits that it once had in Travis County? I'm willing to guess that after the last legislative session- not so much.

I just made another contribution to Valinda's re-election campaign. You should, too.

On the Web: www.valindabolton.org

UPDATE: I could not help but post this excellent summary of the race from the Austin Chronicle Blog.

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.