Mary Beth Harrell
Encyclopedia
Mary Beth Harrell hosts and produces "Insight", a television talk show on KNCT featuring panel discussions on a wide range of topics including: politics, religion, career and family. Harrell selects "prominent, successful women" from the Waco/Killeen/Temple media market as panelists, and solicits reactions to recorded clips of area residents' comments and questions. The first of twelve episodes debuted July 12, 2007.
for United States Representative in Texas'
31st congressional district
. Of all Congressional challengers in 2006, Harrell was the only woman with a son serving on active military duty in the Iraq War.
The Austin American-Statesman
and The Austin Chronicle editorial boards both endorsed Harrell. Harrell was the only challenger that the Austin American-Statesman endorsed in advance of the 2006 elections. "Harrell is a moderate Democrat who has good ideas on the Iraq war and health care, and sensible positions on immigration and federal spending. District 31 voters should send a message to Carter about arrogance and insensitivity and elect Harrell," the paper wrote.
The Austin Chronicle blasted Carter's "incompetent, knee-jerk representation" and praised Harrell's "sensible exit strategy from Bush's war that involves not 'cutting and running' but replacing our troops with a true international peacekeeping force and setting 'achievable' benchmarks for the Iraqi government."
On November 3, 2006, most PBS
affiliates broadcast a NOW episode entitled "Sway the Course?", a report of the impact of the Iraq War on election campaigns. The report included interviews with Harrell and Carter, as well as a number of Republican voters who declared their intention to vote for Harrell. The show did not air on KNCT at the same time as it was scheduled at other PBS
affiliates, but was aired on November 6, 2006 after the program was reviewed by media.
Federal Elections Commission filings indicate that Carter outspent Harrell more than four to one. Carter defeated Harrell by more than 30,000 votes, a 58 to 39 percent margin.
She was City Prosecutor in Nolanville and Temple, Texas
from 2004 until 2006.
. She earned a B.S. in History at Caldwell College
, and a J.D.
at St. Mary's University, Texas
School of Law in 1998.
Harrell was a solo practitioner with the Law Office of M. B. Harrell from 1998 through 2006. Harrell is the Chief Operator at Assisi Animal Refuge. She is married to local businessman Bob Harrell and has three children: Josh Harrell, Rob Harrell and Tonya Rosas. Both of her sons are currently serving on active duty in the United States Army. The oldest remains deployed in Iraq
with the 4th Infantry Division (United States). Mary Beth and Bob Harrell currently reside in Gatesville, Texas
.
Political career
Mary Beth Harrell was the Democratic nominee challenging John Carter (R-Round Rock)John Carter (Texas politician)
John Rice Carter is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Carter was elected Secretary of the House Republican Conference by his colleagues on November 17, 2006....
for United States Representative in Texas'
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
31st congressional district
Texas's 31st congressional district
Texas District 31 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves a strip of central Texas from north Austin up to Stephenville...
. Of all Congressional challengers in 2006, Harrell was the only woman with a son serving on active military duty in the Iraq War.
The Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman
The Austin American-Statesman is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is an award-winning publication owned by Cox Enterprises. The Newspaper places focus on issues affecting Austin and the Central Texas region....
and The Austin Chronicle editorial boards both endorsed Harrell. Harrell was the only challenger that the Austin American-Statesman endorsed in advance of the 2006 elections. "Harrell is a moderate Democrat who has good ideas on the Iraq war and health care, and sensible positions on immigration and federal spending. District 31 voters should send a message to Carter about arrogance and insensitivity and elect Harrell," the paper wrote.
The Austin Chronicle blasted Carter's "incompetent, knee-jerk representation" and praised Harrell's "sensible exit strategy from Bush's war that involves not 'cutting and running' but replacing our troops with a true international peacekeeping force and setting 'achievable' benchmarks for the Iraqi government."
On November 3, 2006, most PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
affiliates broadcast a NOW episode entitled "Sway the Course?", a report of the impact of the Iraq War on election campaigns. The report included interviews with Harrell and Carter, as well as a number of Republican voters who declared their intention to vote for Harrell. The show did not air on KNCT at the same time as it was scheduled at other PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
affiliates, but was aired on November 6, 2006 after the program was reviewed by media.
Federal Elections Commission filings indicate that Carter outspent Harrell more than four to one. Carter defeated Harrell by more than 30,000 votes, a 58 to 39 percent margin.
She was City Prosecutor in Nolanville and Temple, Texas
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
from 2004 until 2006.
Education and family
Harrell was born December 14, 1956 in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. She earned a B.S. in History at Caldwell College
Caldwell College
Caldwell College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Caldwell, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1939 by the Sisters of St. Dominic, the college is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, chartered by the State of New Jersey and registered with the Regents of the...
, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
at St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
School of Law in 1998.
Harrell was a solo practitioner with the Law Office of M. B. Harrell from 1998 through 2006. Harrell is the Chief Operator at Assisi Animal Refuge. She is married to local businessman Bob Harrell and has three children: Josh Harrell, Rob Harrell and Tonya Rosas. Both of her sons are currently serving on active duty in the United States Army. The oldest remains deployed in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
with the 4th Infantry Division (United States). Mary Beth and Bob Harrell currently reside in Gatesville, Texas
Gatesville, Texas
Gatesville is a city in and the county seat of Coryell County in Central Texas, United States of America. The population was 15,591 at the 2000 census...
.