Davis’s success result of trials
By Jessica Sanders
News Editor

From her resume, it might seem that success came easily to Councilwoman Wendy Davis.

In 1990, she graduated first in her class from TCU and continued on to Harvard Law School, where she graduated with honors. Davis returned to Fort Worth to work as an attorney and now represents City Council District 9.

But her record doesn’t do justice to the trials she has faced, said English professor emeritus Bob Frye, one of Davis’ former professors.

“She was very talented,” Frye said. “She’s overcome a number of obstacles in her early life and she just came right through it.”

Davis said she was 22 and a single parent attending Tarrant County Junior College when she received a scholarship to go to TCU. Her then 3-year-old daughter, Amber, was enrolled in preschool with an extended-care program while Davis went to TCU full time and worked full time as a receptionist and waitress, she said.

“It was difficult,” she said. “It makes you very effective at time management.”

Despite the time constraints, Davis was an exceptional student, Frye said.

“In a very good class, she was absolutely the best writer,” Frye said. “I was so impressed with her that I wrote a three-page single-spaced letter of recommendation for her for Harvard Law.”

Harvard turned out to be good preparation, not only for a career in law, but also for being on City Council, Davis said.

“Definitely going to law school and practicing law helped me develop analytical skills needed to argue a point,” she said. “Sometimes I am a little more long-winded than I would like, but I guess that comes from being a lawyer where you are paid by the word.”

Davis’ district includes parts of south and southwest Fort Worth, downtown and the TCU area.

Don Mills, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, said he has come to know Davis through the council’s dealings with the university.

“Councilwoman Davis is an extremely bright, funny, dynamic and charismatic person,” Mills said. “She is a great friend to TCU and leader to Fort Worth.”

He said that whenever TCU is planning development, administrators always ask Davis’ advice on how to present it to the city. She also helps TCU by acting as a mediator between the university and the neighbors at area meetings, Mills said.

“She also tells us when she thinks we should change our plans,” Mills said. “She’s very honest and that’s helpful, too.”

Mills said he is working with Davis on the Berry Street Initiative to redevelop and beautify the area around West Berry Street. Plans for the area include an urban village of apartments, shops and restaurants.

Davis said she enjoys helping with economic developments, but she also likes solving the problems for Fort Worth residents.

“I enjoy the day-to-day of helping people in my district with things that don’t seem like big issues but are to the people who deal with them,” Davis said. “When I was first elected, I helped an elderly woman in my district during record summer heat to receive an air-conditioning unit from an emergency assistance program that we have.”

She said she has also helped with other small things, such as clearing illegal dumping, getting new streetlights put up in neighborhoods and working to get donations for park improvements.

Assistant City Manager Charles Boswell said he has worked with Davis on a number of projects in the last 10 years and admires her dedication.

Boswell said Davis supported public housing residents when they were moved to an apartment complex in her district because she felt it was in the best interest of the residents and the city as a whole.

“It was not, however, a popular political position, and she had to endure months of hate mail and personal attacks,” Boswell said. “She held her ground and was easily re-elected last May. It took courage to do the right thing, but she did it.”

Frye said he still follows Davis’ career and admires her accomplishments.

“Even under difficult situations she excelled, and I just have a lot of admiration for Wendy,” he said. “I’m very proud of her.”