On The Record: Ella Tyler

For this episode of On the Record, we speak with Ella Tyler, Committeewoman for Senate District 17.

How did you get started in politics? Did you come to it in your youth or later on?

I started when I was 17 years old. I was a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin; I returned home and went to Mass at my home church, and in the parking lot I found George Wallace stickers on all the cars. I was appalled, because my opinion of George Wallace was that he was a racist. I realized I wanted to do something about the situation, but I wasn’t sure how. When I returned to college, a friend told me about a Young Democrats meeting. I attended the meeting and that was that for me. I began volunteering for the Humphrey/Muskie office, and I sent out materials all over the state. My friend would take me down to the Greyhound bus station to send out the information before midnight, and I would get back to the dorm just before my curfew.

What would you say are the primary issues concerning Houston?

The biggest issue is the environment. Air pollution and air quality is important in the area. I edit the Citizens' Environmental Coalition emailed newsletter which goes to about 9,000 subscribers. We have about 100 member groups in the Greater Harris county area, each of which deals with a different environmental concern of the area.

Education is a growing concern also. I recently read a story in a newspaper concerning the top-ranked schools in Texas. I found that 20 other schools around the state were rated higher than the best school in the Houston area. I was concerned at how this happens, since we all require the same state qualifications for our schools.

Public transit is also an issue which needs to be addressed in Houston.

Do you have any ambition for higher office? Do you have plans to run for any other party office, or possibly even public office?

I am currently on the Senate District Executive Committee, and I enjoy it very much. I am currently in my second term, and I serve parts of five different counties. Several of the counties are performing better than they were two or three years ago. For example, in 2004, Galveston County was a mess; it was unorganized and did not reflect the constituents of the area. It is doing much better now.

Who are some of your political heroes?

Congressman Mickey Leland was the most charismatic politician I have ever met. He was outgoing, friendly, and extremely personable. He asked to be addressed as Mickey, while other politicians around him preferred a more formal title. In 1976, I published thousands of brochures with Mickey’s picture in it with a certain look, and when I then ran into Mickey, he had changed his look completely. He cut off his hair and looked completely different than the picture, and his tabloid picture was almost unrecognizable as himself. I yelled at him, but he didn’t seem to mind too much. Also, Francis (Sissy) Farenthal continues to speak out about what she believes, and she has been a strong advocate for her issues. Billie Carr, who taught me and lots of other people about grassroots organizing, was a good friend, too.

I also believe any person who runs for office deserves a tremendous amount of credit. It is brutal to run; on the good days, half the people you meet don’t like you. It is a tiresome job. Congressman Gene Green is the nicest politician around. I sometimes feel some people need a bit of rehab for their bad attitude, and I think Congressman Green is the right man to teach them how to have the right attitude. He has served since 1972 and continues to take care of the people in his district. He is on time for events, and if he is early, will help set up chairs.

What would you say has been the single most defining moment in your political life?

During the Humphrey/Muskie campaign in 1968, we filled the Astrodome for a rally. We lost, but the feeling of the rally was amazing for me. Also, when I first began at the University of Texas in Austin, I was a naïve freshman, and I discovered many things all at once. My grade point average was in trouble and didn't survive my volunteering for Ralph Yarborough. He lost the primary; I returned home, not eligible to return to UT the next semester, and spoke with my father, a staunch Republican at the time. He let me know he had voted for Yarborough. My father ended up being an active Democrat, and I was very proud to have made a difference.

What are you looking forward to in the coming cycle?

I am spending time working with the different groups I am involved with to teach them about the new election rules that have passed. I realized I have always waited for someone to tell me who to support based on important issues, and so I haven’t actually decided on a candidate to support yet. But I will review the issues and decide.

Senate District 17 is interesting and very diverse, with a lot of environmental problems. I am currently building up certain communities to get them more organized. There are South Asian and Hispanic communities with great potential that have not yet been brought out to vote. I am also focusing on organizing activists in areas where they are motivated, but organization is lacking.

What advice would you give to young people just getting into politics?

A lesson I learned as a young Democrat: Bob Slagle told me, ”Don’t open your mouth until you have something important to say.” In the ’70s, when I was in the Young Democrats, I realized nothing is permanent, and you have to work with everyone; you might agree with them at a later time on a different issue. I am still involved with some of the people from that organization, like Bill Brannon. If you want to make a change, becoming involved in politics can make a difference. I am always using a variety of skills and meeting incredible people.

Tell us a little bit about the SDEC, and what roles you feel like you fulfill in that group, official or otherwise.

Officially, I sit on the legislative committee. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as involved this session due to personal reasons. I attend meetings and report back to committee members. I report back to the district about what the state party is doing and how it affects them. I’m currently also going to my clubs and keeping them informed about the new election rules.