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

Keep up with Mayor Mattie

Check out Go Time with Mayor Mattie Parker

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Editing and Support by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠