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​Like his predecessor Combs, Keel was considered a [[Moderate Republican]] by Texas standards. "Over the years, he's clearly emerged as a member who's trusted on both sides of the aisle," said Rep. Ellitott Naishtat, an Austin Democrat and senior member of the Travis County delegation."<ref>Dave Harmon (March 2, 2003), "Moving Into the Majority,"  ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. H5.</ref>[[Conservative]] activist [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]], for instance, rated him only  54 percent favorable in 2005. The Young Conservatives of Texas, however, in that same year scored Keel at 70 percent. Earlier, in his career he had been more conservative in his voting record. The [[Christian Coalition]], founded by the Reverend [[Pat Robertson]] of [[Virginia]], scored him 92 percent in 1999.​

​Like his predecessor Combs, Keel was considered a [[Moderate Republican]] by Texas standards. "Over the years, he's clearly emerged as a member who's trusted on both sides of the aisle," said Rep. Ellitott Naishtat, an Austin Democrat and senior member of the Travis County delegation."<ref>Dave Harmon (March 2, 2003), "Moving Into the Majority,"  ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. H5.</ref>[[Conservative]] activist [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]], for instance, rated him only  54 percent favorable in 2005. The Young Conservatives of Texas, however, in that same year scored Keel at 70 percent. Earlier, in his career he had been more conservative in his voting record. The [[Christian Coalition]], founded by the Reverend [[Pat Robertson]] of [[Virginia]], scored him 92 percent in 1999.​

==Defeat for judge, 2006==​

==Defeat for appellate judge, 2006===​

In the spring of 2006, Keel ran unsuccessfully in the statewide Republican primary for [[Judge]] of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8. In Texas as well as [[Oklahoma]], the state's highest criminal and civil appeals courts are entirely separate bodies. He went into a runoff with the incumbent Charles Holcomb, who prevailed with 89,376 votes (53.62 percent) to Keel's 77,291(46.37 percent).<ref>http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe</ref> As customary in Texas, this was an extremely low-turnout party runoff.​

In the spring of 2006, Keel ran unsuccessfully in the statewide Republican primary for [[Judge]] of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8. In Texas as well as [[Oklahoma]], the state's highest criminal and civil appeals courts are entirely separate bodies. He went into a runoff with the incumbent Charles Holcomb, who prevailed with 89,376 votes (53.62 percent) to Keel's 77,291(46.37 percent).<ref>http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe</ref> As customary in Texas, this was an extremely low-turnout party runoff.​

Keel tried to have the signature petitions of both Judge Holcomb and [[Dallas]] District Judge Robert Francis invalidated because of errors.<ref>Chuck Lindell (January 25, 2006), "Judges ask court to reinstate them on appellate ballot,"  ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. B1.</ref> Had he succeeded, Keel would have been the only Republican candidate for the Place 8 judgeship and a prohibitive favorite in the general election. Instead the Texas Supreme Court allowed Holcomb and Francis, the third-place finisher in the primary, more time to correct the errors in their petitions.<ref>In Re Frances, 186 S.W.3d 534 (Tex. 2006).</ref>​

Keel tried to have the signature petitions of both Judge Holcomb and [[Dallas]] District Judge Robert Francis invalidated because of errors.<ref>Chuck Lindell (January 25, 2006), "Judges ask court to reinstate them on appellate ballot,"  ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. B1.</ref> Had he succeeded, Keel would have been the only Republican candidate for the Place 8 judgeship and a prohibitive favorite in the general election. Instead the Texas Supreme Court allowed Holcomb and Francis, the third-place finisher in the primary, more time to correct the errors in their petitions.<ref>In Re Frances, 186 S.W.3d 534 (Tex. 2006).</ref>​

​Keel's former House seat went Democratic in 2006, with the victory of Valinda Bolton over Republican Bill Welch, 50.24 to 45.53 percent, respectively.​

 

Keel's former House seat went Democratic in 2006, with the victory of Valinda Bolton over Republican Bill Welch, 50.24 to 45.53 percent, respectively.​

​==Keel as House parliamentarian==​

==As House parliamentarian==​

Speaker Craddick chose Keel as an interim parliamentarian on May 25, 2007, when Denise Davis and her deputy, Chris Griesel, resigned because Craddick deflected questions from insurgent House members who sought to remove him as Speaker.<ref>Laylan Copelin (May 26, 2007), "Mutiny in Texas House," ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. A1.</ref> Craddick refused to allow House members to make a motion to "vacate the chair" on the theory that he has the power to quash such a request. He also declined to allow an appeal of his decision.​

Speaker Craddick chose Keel as an interim parliamentarian on May 25, 2007, when Denise Davis and her deputy, Chris Griesel, resigned because Craddick deflected questions from insurgent House members who sought to remove him as Speaker.<ref>Laylan Copelin (May 26, 2007), "Mutiny in Texas House," ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. A1.</ref> Craddick refused to allow House members to make a motion to "vacate the chair" on the theory that he has the power to quash such a request. He also declined to allow an appeal of his decision.​

​Fom 1983 to 1984, Keel was an assistant to the district attorney of Brazos County ([[Bryan, Texas|Bryan]]-[[College Station, Texas|College Station]]).<ref>Jan Snell, Jann (July 7, 1984). "Keel Leaving Assistant DA Post for Position in Travis County." ''Bryan-College Station Eagle,'' p. 2A.</ref> From 1999 to 2000, he was a special prosecutor for the district attorney of Hays County near  Austin.<ref>Ralph K. M. (March 2, 2000), "Home Turned Into Biohazard," ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. A1.</ref>​

​Fom 1983 to 1984, Keel was an assistant to the district attorney of Brazos County ([[Bryan, Texas|Bryan]]-[[College Station, Texas|College Station]]).<ref>Jan Snell, Jann (July 7, 1984). "Keel Leaving Assistant DA Post for Position in Travis County." ''Bryan-College Station Eagle,'' p. 2A.</ref> From 1999 to 2000, he was a special prosecutor for the district attorney of Hays County near  Austin.<ref>Ralph K. M. (March 2, 2000), "Home Turned Into Biohazard," ''Austin American-Statesman,'' p. A1.</ref>​

==Executive Director of the Texas Facilities Commission==​

==Executive Director of the Texas Facilities Commission==​

The Commission, appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House, selected Keel to lead the state agency charged with responsibility for planning, providing and managing all aspects of facilities supporting the needs for over 55,000 state employees in Austin and in more than  290 cities in Texas.  The agency’s duties include space planning; assigning office space to departments of state government; facilities master planning; real estate acquisition; architecture, engineering, design, construction & project management; lease procurement; facilities maintenance & operations; and state & federal surplus property administration. Keel held this position from December 31, 2009 to January 9, 2015.​

The Commission, appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House, selected Keel to lead the state agency charged with responsibility for planning, providing and managing all aspects of facilities supporting the needs for over 55,000 state employees in Austin and in more than  290 cities in Texas.  The agency’s duties include space planning; assigning office space to departments of state government; facilities master planning; real estate acquisition; architecture, engineering, design, construction & project management; lease procurement; facilities maintenance & operations; and state & federal surplus property administration. Keel held this position from December 31, 2009 to January 9, 2015.​

==Legal articles==​

==Legal articles==​