Mary Kelleher

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Mary Kelleher

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 3, 2025

Education

High school

Chicopee High School

Bachelor's

University of Saint Joseph

Graduate

American International College

Personal

Profession

Court intake supervisor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Personal LinkedIn

Mary Kelleher was an at-large member of the Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors in Texas. She assumed office on May 18, 2021. She left office in 2025.

Kelleher ran for election to the Fort Worth City Council to represent District 5 in Texas. She lost in the general election on May 3, 2025.

Kelleher completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mary Kelleher graduated from Chicopee High School. Kelleher earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Saint Joseph and a graduate degree from the American International College. Her career experience includes working as a court intake supervisor for Tarrant County Juvenile Services.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Fort Worth, Texas (2025)

General election

General election for Fort Worth City Council District 5

The following candidates ran in the general election for Fort Worth City Council District 5 on May 3, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Deborah Peoples (Nonpartisan)	54.3	2,526
		Mary Kelleher (Nonpartisan)	23.9	1,110
		Michael Moore (Nonpartisan)	17.5	814
		Ken Bowens Jr. (Nonpartisan)	1.7	80
		Bob Willoughby (Nonpartisan)	1.4	67
		Marvin Jose Diaz (Nonpartisan)	1.2	57

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,654
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

To view Kelleher's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kelleher in this election.

2021

See also: Municipal elections in Tarrant County, Texas (2021)

General election

General election for Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors on May 1, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Leah King (Nonpartisan)	20.1	26,313
✔		James Hill (Nonpartisan)	16.7	21,894
✔		Mary Kelleher (Nonpartisan)	15.6	20,365
		Charles Team (Nonpartisan)	14.4	18,865
	Submit photo	Glenda Murray Thompson (Nonpartisan)	12.5	16,427
	Submit photo	Jeremy Raines (Nonpartisan)	10.9	14,320
		Jack Stevens (Nonpartisan)	9.7	12,741

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 130,925
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2019

See also: Municipal elections in Tarrant County, Texas (2019)

General election

General election for Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors (2 seats)

Incumbent Marty Leonard and incumbent Jim Lane defeated Mary Kelleher, Charles Team, and Gary Moates in the general election for Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors on May 4, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Marty Leonard (Nonpartisan)	30.1	18,215
✔	Submit photo	Jim Lane (Nonpartisan)	22.8	13,795
		Mary Kelleher (Nonpartisan)	17.2	10,395
		Charles Team (Nonpartisan)	16.2	9,776
	Submit photo	Gary Moates (Nonpartisan)	13.7	8,306

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 60,487
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Tarrant County, Texas (2017)

Tarrant County, Texas, held an election for county college board of trustees and water district board of directors on May 6, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was February 17, 2017.

The Districts 3, 4, and 5 seats on the Tarrant County College District Board of Trustees and three seats on the Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors were up for election in 2017. Leah King, James Hill, and incumbent Jack Stevens defeated incumbent Mary Kelleher and Andra Beatty in the general election for a seat on the Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors.

Tarrant Regional Water District Board of Directors, General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Leah King	28.55%	18,958
James Hill	23.31%	15,482
Jack Stevens Incumbent	22.36%	14,846
Mary Kelleher Incumbent	14.47%	9,608
Andra Beatty	11.31%	7,514
Total Votes		66,408
Source: Tarrant County, Texas, "Official Results," accessed May 24, 2017

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mary Kelleher completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kelleher's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Mary Kelleher, a longtime Fort Worth District 5 resident and a dedicated public servant passionate about transparency, ethical leadership, and community-focused solutions. I worked as a certified juvenile probation officer and supervisor with Tarrant County Juvenile Services for nearly three decades. I also served two nonconsecutive terms on the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) Board, where I fought for accountability, transparency, and responsible development. My experience in public service, community engagement, and governance has equipped me with the knowledge and determination to represent District 5 on the Fort Worth City Council effectively. As a lifelong advocate for our district, I am committed to addressing infrastructure challenges, public safety, and responsible development while ensuring that every resident's voice is heard and valued.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Responsible Development & Infrastructure – I will fight for development that strengthens our district rather than displaces or harms our residents. Infrastructure improvements, including better roads and flood prevention, will be my top priority. I will encourage job creation and business growth so District 5 residents can live, work, and enjoy their lives with better options and opportunities.
• Public Safety & Community Well-Being – I will work to improve police-community relations, enhance emergency response times, and ensure our first responders have the resources they need to protect our neighborhoods.
• Transparency & Ethical Leadership – My record speaks for itself. I have fought against corruption and for transparency in government. I will continue to ensure residents are informed, engaged, and heard in every decision that impacts our district.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Safety – Ensuring adequate police and fire resources while fostering strong community relations.

Smart Growth & Zoning – Advocate for balanced development that protects green spaces and prevents reckless urban sprawl. Encourage development that brings amenities and jobs to the Eastside.

Tax Relief & Affordability – Address high property taxes and housing costs to ensure that residents can afford to stay in their homes and new residents can afford to live in District 5.

Flood Prevention & Environmental Stewardship – Implement policies to prevent flood damage and protect our natural resources based on my experience at TRWD.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Service over politics. I believe in common-sense governance that prioritizes people, not special interests. I will work across ideological and district lines to find solutions that improve the lives of all residents in District 5. Collaborating with and understanding where each person is coming from is key to finding common ground and working together to improve residents' lives.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I bring integrity, accessibility, and a proven track record of standing up for the people. My experience serving on the TRWD Board, working in juvenile justice, and advocating for responsible governance has prepared me to lead with a results-driven approach. I am a dedicated public servant, not a career politician—I answer every call, respond to every concern, and will always put my community first.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2021

Mary Kelleher did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mary Kelleher did not complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

2017

In response to a question from the League of Women Voters Education Fund about her priorities for the water district, Kelleher said:

“	Making Aquifer Storage/Recovery a reality for our area. Returning fiscal responsibility to TRWD [Tarrant Regional Water District].	”
—Mary Kelleher, (2017)

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Fort Worth City Council District 5

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