Texas State Representative Caroline Harris Davila, one of the youngest members of the Texas House, disclosed in a recent podcast episode that she nearly chose not to run for office due to an intense fear of public speaking. In Episode 78 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, hosted by Bryan Eisenberg, Davila described her initial campaign speech as terrifying. "My first speech I ever gave when I was running for office, I almost threw up right after. I mean, I was just petrified. I was shaking," she said. "It really was one of the top reasons of why I didn't even want to run because I just didn't think I would be able to communicate."
The episode, aired on June 16, 2026, offers a deeply personal look at Davila's journey from a pastor's kid in Round Rock to a state representative. She credited her parents, her grandparents who still live next door at ages 90 and 95, and her faith for pushing her past her fears. The conversation moves beyond politics to explore the texture of civic life in Round Rock, including the mechanics of the part-time Texas legislature, which pays just $600 a month and convenes 140 days every other year.
Davila emphasized the importance of constituent service, noting that over 95% of Texas House initiatives are bipartisan, a statistic that may surprise those familiar with national politics. She said the most common request her office handles is help securing a driver license appointment, but the range stretches to extraordinary cases, including a family that needed assistance streamlining an autopsy for a loved one. She described her role as a connector, linking constituents to nonprofits, sponsoring silent auction items, arranging flags flown over the Capitol, and recruiting young people nationally to run for local office through a group she works with on candidate development.
The episode also delved into housing affordability, trade school pathways like Texas State Technical College in Hutto, and keeping young talent in Central Texas. Davila highlighted how nonprofits, including Will Williams' work distributing power wheelchairs to veterans, plug into her office. The conversation underscores the daily reality of constituent service that rarely makes headlines, illustrating how local representation functions on a human level.
Produced by Round Rock Studio and hosted by bestselling author and keynote speaker Bryan Eisenberg, Rock Solid spotlights the entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and civic leaders building one of Central Texas's fastest-growing communities. Episode 78 is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
