The Capital Metro Board and GM

Lee Walker, Chairman: Appointed to the Cap Metro Board in September 1997. A graduate of Texas A&M University and Harvard Business School, Walker made millions as the Chief Financial Officer for Dell Computer. He first gained credibility among Austin environmentalists because he was among the first business people to endorse the SOS Ordinance. The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce honored Walker as the 1998 "Austinite of the Year."

Margaret Gomez, Vice Chair: Gomez, a member of the Travis County Commissioners Court, represents Precinct 4 in South Austin. Before winning election to the commission in 1994, she served as county constable.

Beverly Griffith: Recently re-elected to Place 4 on the Austin City Council, Griffith is a partner in Griffith Properties, an investment and real estate firm managing commercial properties.

Daryl Slusher: A former political writer for this newspaper, Slusher quit journalism to become a politician, and is currently serving his second term in Place 1 on the Austin City Council. Slusher's campaign slogan was "no more boondoggles."

John Treviño: A Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) representative on the board, Treviño has an important place in Austin political history: In 1975, he became the first Hispanic to win a place on the City Council, serving until 1988. He now works at UT on minority business development projects.

Charles Eaton: The mayor of Leander joined the board in April, but he has missed a number of recent meetings. An engineer with Hensel Phelps Construction, he is serving his second term as mayor of Leander. The Greater Leander Chamber of Commerce recently named him the 1999 Leander Citizen of the Year.

Sam Billings (resigned Nov. 23): The mayor of Jonestown, Billings has been active in politics there since 1987 when he was first elected as an alderman. He sells real estate in the Jonestown/Lago Vista area. In his resignation letter to Walker, Billings said his beliefs and approach to public service "make it impossible for me to support the methods and actions of the executive officers." He has not been replaced.

Karen Rae, General Manager: Rae, the former acting director of surface transportation for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority in Buffalo, began work at Cap Metro on Oct. 1, 1998. A graduate of East Stroudsburg State College in Pennsylvania, Rae has been credited with changing the working atmosphere at Cap Metro. Last month the board rewarded her with a $5,000 bonus and a $5,000 pay raise. She is paid $100,000 per year.