Watson Wire: Spreading the Love of Kay & Joe

Just like with a theater performance, there’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to pull off the production of an Austin City Council meeting on any given Thursday. And the people who do that backstage work – from the ATXN crew broadcasting the meeting to the City Clerk staff managing all the details – are absolutely indispensable.

Today, we honored two of those people – Kay and Joe Guedea – who’ve helped to keep the Council and staff fed and watered.

Ms. Kay has been a central and selfless figure in the operations of Austin city government since 1975 and started in 1998 feeding the bellies and hearts of decades’ worth of staff, council members and mayors. She treats every person she meets as a member of her own family — often offering hugs, encouragement, and a shoulder to lean on. She is also an avid reader of the Watson Wire.

I first met this neat person the first time I was mayor. I quickly learned that she was the glue that holds things together, the tie that binds at City Hall, the rock everyone can count on, the person who can get anything done—no matter how small, large or mundane. Yeah, that’s the only word to describe how she makes people feel — loved. She loves her job, sure, but she loves her job because she loves us.

And we love her.

Joe Guedea has been right by Kay’s side for 62 years and in recent years has helped out managing the coffee and refreshment station, watching the candy drawer like a hawk.

Kay and Joe both have the hearts of public servants, and we honored their contributions by naming the Austin City Hall staff bullpen behind Council Chambers as "The Kay Guedea Staff Bullpen" and the City Hall first-floor kitchen as “The Joe Guedea Kitchen.”

I feel very lucky to have met this lovely couple.