Meet Mary
Mary Kelleher has lived in Fort Worth and Council District 5 since 1996. In 2003, she fulfilled a dream by purchasing acreage on the Trinity River just south of the original and Historic Randol Mill location.
Today, her land and lease property make up nearly two hundred acres of the largest working cattle ranch in east Ft. Worth where she operates alongside her husband Larry, also a lifelong District 5 resident. Today's southern border of this beautiful property runs along Randol Mill Road, named in honor of Mr. Randol's iconic mill operation.
Mary was introduced into Fort Worth politics in 2010 when catastrophic flooding, much of which was caused by poorly planned development, both locally and upstream on the Trinity River, massively flooded her property and neighbors near the river throughout the city's east side.
"We lost valuable farm equipment and livestock. But the heartbreak of helplessly watching our livestock drown became the driving force behind my decision to become a difference maker. To that end, I ran for and was elected to a board seat in the Tarrant Regional Water District. I have served two nonconsecutive terms covering eight years at TRWD, but more importantly, I have passionately and effectively served fellow Texans in 11 counties.
I fought corruption as hard as I fought for transparency, including spearheading a successful effort to live-stream all Water District meetings so citizens can see and hear the decisions being reached that affect the lives of 11 different counties and their citizens."
Today, Mary has dedicated her political efforts to improving the lives of her neighbors and fellow citizens who, like her, proudly call Fort Worth Council District 5 home.
Mary Kelleher is running as a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Fort Worth City Council.
Mary Kelleher's scholastic, professional, and civic credentials paint a clear picture of a person well qualified to assume the huge vacancy left as Councilwoman Gyna Bivens steps down. They are:
- Two Terms served on the Tarrant Regional Water District Board serving 11 counties. 2013-2017, 2021-2025.
- A twenty-eight-year career with Tarrant County Juvenile Services as a certified juvenile probation officer/supervisor.
During this time, Mary has worked cooperatively with the Fort Worth Police Department, Tarrant County Sheriff's Department, area law enforcement, victims of juvenile delinquency, lawyers, District Attorney staff, judges, area schools, CPS, and MHMR.
Mary retired in 2018 but returned to work for Tarrant County as Assistant Court Coordinator for the 323rd District Court, the designated Juvenile Court in Tarrant County.
- Mary helped the development of Tarrant County's first juvenile fire starter program and worked closely with the Tarrant County Fire Marshal's office with expertise in 'risk assessments' of and referral for services for juveniles and their families.
- In 2018, Mary testified before the Sunset Review Committee in Austin to encourage the Railroad Commission to adopt safe drilling practices in urban areas. She also spearheaded a successful effort to defeat the placement of gas drilling compressor stations in neighborhoods in Fort Worth.
- Mary currently serves on the steering committee of the Trinity River Common Vision, where communities with property along the Trinity River work on flood control and water supply issues for our area's future growth.
- Mary has served as Secretary of the successful and city-approved John T. Neighborhood Association.
Educational Achievements
- Master of Educational Psychology of Advanced Graduate Study in School Psychology from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.
- Bachelor Of Arts in Psychology from the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut.
- She studied at the University of Valencia in Spain, where she received a Minor in Spanish, a language she remains fluent in.