In Austin, Texas, an appointee of Governor Greg Abbott, L’Oreal Stepney, found herself emotionally defending her professional qualifications during a contentious discussion surrounding diversity hiring policies. Stepney, who is Black and serves as the Chair of the Texas Water Development Board, was questioned by Republican Representative Brian Harrison regarding the hiring practices of the agency she oversees.
The inquiry, which took place on Thursday, caused visible tension as lawmakers, at one point, offered comfort to Stepney. Following this exchange, prominent Republican figures including Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows expressed their support for Stepney, commending her service. Harrison, an opponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within state governance, provoked these tensions by challenging Stepney and another agency official, Edna Jackson, on the notion included in their strategic plan that the workforce should mirror Texas’ expanding diversity.
Despite the heated atmosphere, Harrison refrained from directly questioning the qualifications of Stepney or any other employee during his interrogation. On Friday, he defended his conduct, asserting the professionalism of his questions, which he claimed were no different from those he directed at numerous other agency leaders. He further deflected responsibility, stating that it was Democratic committee members who raised concerns about Stepney’s qualifications.
Among those disconcerted by the line of questioning was Democratic State Representative Nicole Collier. Collier, who is also Black, voiced her frustration at having to witness two Black women endure scrutiny that she interpreted as tied to long-standing systemic racism. In responding to the critique, Stepney eloquently listed her ample experience and educational background to the panel. She highlighted her 33-year tenure with the state and her dual engineering degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, one in aerospace engineering and another in civil engineering.
Expressing the significance of her role, Stepney remarked on her deep honor in being chosen for the board, confirmed, and subsequently appointed as chair. “I have always been grateful to the governor,” she stated, emphasizing her contributions to Texan infrastructure. “What have I done? I have protected the drinking water supply of 31 million Texans.”
