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ELECTION 2014: Cecilia Abbott Shares Life, Touts Husband’s Experience
By Jonathan Garris
Magnolia Potpourri

Cecilia Abbott, wife of Texas governor candidate Greg Abbott, hoped to give people a more intimate view of her husband and his candidacy Thursday afternoon at the monthly luncheon of the Montgomery County Republican Women.

Mrs. Abbott spoke about her time growing up in San Antonio and how it shaped her world view, relating it to her experiences today.

“Both my parents were educators and we admired people who served others,” she said. “We admired our doctors and our nurses who cared for us, our elected officials who led our community and teachers who inspired students like me.”

Abbott described meeting her husband while following her dream to become a teacher while at the University of Texas in the late 1970s. She spoke highly of his “traditional values” and also talked about his resolve following a jogging accident in 1984 that paralyzed him from the waist down.

“He was very mentally tough before his accident, but he took that toughness to a level I never thought possible,” Abbott said.

As Greg Abbott, Texas attorney general, continued his work as an attorney, Cecilia Abbott said her husband grew frustrated with judges who were under-prepared for their casework and would go on to run as a judge in Harris County.

On the campaign trail, she said “convincing” was not a word she used to describe herself.

“I was happiest behind the scenes and I still am, as you can tell,” she said with a laugh. “I was so shy and I would practically hide from voters working up the courage to ask them a simple question – ‘you wouldn’t want to vote for my husband, would you?’”

After then-Gov. George W. Bush appointed Greg Abbott to attorney general in the 90s, the family relocated to Austin and eventually adopted their daughter Audrey.

“I think being a father has made Greg work even harder to defend the children of Texas,” Cecilia said. “Texas is the wrong place to hurt a child or abandon your family when Greg Abbott is on the job.”

Cecilia said it has been an “honor” to picture her husband as Texas’ next governor.

“The honest, hardworking guy you’ve appreciated as attorney general is the same guy at home,” Cecilia said. “Watching him mature as a man through incredible trial and into fatherhood has made me love and trust him even more.”

Cecilia called on those in attendance to stand together and to keep Texas red.

“As I say to Greg every day: ‘Let’s roll,’” Cecilia said.

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