Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s appointee, L’Oreal Stepney, chair of the Texas Water Board Development, became emotional as she defended her credentials during a tense exchange about diversity hiring policies. The confrontation occurred Thursday with GOP state Rep. Brian Harrison, who questioned Stepney and other agency officials about their hiring practices.
Stepney, who is Black, was visibly upset and was comforted by lawmakers during the exchange. Following the incident, Texas’ top Republican officials quickly rallied to support her.
Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, all Republicans, issued statements backing Stepney and her service. Other Republican lawmakers also criticized Harrison’s conduct during the exchange.
“While passionate and open discussion will always be welcomed, comments that demean and belittle will never be tolerated,” Republican state Rep. Greg Bonnen, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, wrote on social media.
Harrison is a vocal opponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in state government. During the exchange, he questioned Stepney and Edna Jackson, who is also Black, about a statement in the agency’s strategic plan that its workforce should mirror the state’s increasing diversity.
Harrison did not directly question the qualifications of Stepney or any other agency staff during the hearing.
On Friday, he defended his line of questioning, stating, “My line of questioning was perfect and professional.” He added that he had asked similar questions to numerous other agency leaders. “It was Democrats on the committee who raised the issue of her qualifications. I never mentioned it.”
Harrison’s questioning led Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier, who is Black, to voice her frustration, saying it was painful to “watch two Black women have to defend 246 years of systemic racism.”
In response, Stepney gave an emotional defense of her qualifications to the panel. She explained that March would mark her 33rd year working for the state and highlighted her two engineering degrees from the University of Texas at Austin—one in aerospace engineering and the other in civil engineering.
“It was a deep honor for me to be appointed to the board, to be confirmed by the board, and to be appointed chair,” Stepney said. “I have always been grateful to the governor. What have I done? I have protected the drinking water supply of 31 million Texans.”