Mayor Mattie Parker joins the show to talk about Fort Worth as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country—and how she’s leading it with both strategy and soul. From working behind the scenes in Texas politics to becoming one of the youngest mayors of a top-10 U.S. city, Mattie shares her journey, the challenges of balancing motherhood with leadership, and what it really takes to keep a city running well. She dives deep into public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and why keeping politics local (and not ideological) is crucial for progress.
In This Episode
[00:00] Intro: Who is Mattie Parker?
[01:17] Balancing motherhood and mayorship
[02:45] Her path from small-town Texas to the state capitol
[06:30] Working through law school and launching a career in politics
[09:34] What motivated her to run for mayor—and why it surprised her
[13:50] Nonpartisan governance in a polarized time
[16:00] Dealing with threats, outrage culture, and public pressure
[17:15] Fort Worth’s growth and how it’s stayed true to itself
[21:20] The benefits of a council-manager government model
[23:30] Fort Worth vs. Dallas—more collaboration than competition
[26:10] Why education is at the heart of Fort Worth’s future
[30:21] What’s working in economic development (and why)
[33:00] Retaining the “small-town feel” in a booming city
[35:00] Regional leadership and balancing city vs. metro priorities
[38:15] Public safety, police accountability, and staffing up
[42:50] Infrastructure priorities and transit innovation
[46:30] Navigating state vs. city governance battles
Guest Resources
Check out Go Time with Mayor Mattie Parker
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Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.