Arlington Republican who fought red light cameras dies after COVID hospitalization
An Arlington Republican known for her work to ban red light cameras died on Monday after being hospitalized for COVID-19 and pneumonia.
Kelly Canon was active in Republican politics, including as a vice president of the Arlington Republican Club, and had been vocal in her opposition to vaccine mandates. The club posted about Canon’s death on Facebook, remembering her as a “loyal and beloved friend and Patriot.”
“Kelly will be forever in our hearts as a loyal and beloved friend and Patriot,” the post reads. “Gone way too soon. We will keep her family in our prayers.”
Canon helped to get red light cameras turned off in Arlington by leading a petition drive to get the issue added to the ballot in 2015. Arlington voters voted to ban the cameras, and Texas lawmakers later banned them statewide.
“She was a very passionate person, and she was very much a go-getter, not just a talker,” said Faith Bussey, who met Canon through the Arlington Tea Party and worked with her to ban red light cameras in Arlington.
Canon is also known for sharing private Facebook messages between her and former U.S. Rep. Joe Barton after he sent a nude photo of himself to a different woman. In some of the messages, Barton asked questions that were sexual in nature. He would soon announce his retirement from the North Texas congressional seat.
“She was a headstrong activist and a grassroots leader,” said Rick Barnes, president of the Tarrant County Republican Party. “She was just one of those types that when she wanted to get something done, she was going to stand strong on it until it came about.”
Mark Hanson, president of the Arlington Republican Club, said the group was “totally stunned” by the news of Canon’s passing. Canon served as the group’s vice president for legislative alerts. Hanson said it’s his understanding Canon was hospitalized but getting better as of late last week, so her death came as a shock.
Canon, based on Facebook posts, appeared to have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. She also shared posts that opposed vaccine mandates and she said she attended a December symposium in Burleson billed as “Connecting Medical & Legal Minds in an Effort Against Forced Medical Mandates.”
“Good news!!!!! My employer has ‘granted’ my religious exemption request,” a Nov. 12 post reads. “No jabby-jabby for me. Praise GOD!”
Hanson noted that Canon served as a Republican precinct chair for several years, was a proud Texas A&M graduate and a dog lover.
State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, said Canon was a an original member of “Team Tinderholt.” He described her as “smart, kind, loyal, dedicated and a hard worker” in a Facebook post.
“She helped defeat red light cameras and helped get many conservative candidates elected to office,” he said. “I truly feel if it were not for her help, I would not be in the position I am now.....for that I am forever grateful.”
Former Bedford State Rep. Jonathan Stickland said “no one worked harder, was more selfless, or loved Texas more.”
“She transformed public opinion in Arlington, and left a mark on many,” he said on Facebook.
The Arlington Republican Club recently lost another board member, said Hanson — Donna Hertel, who served as vice president for membership and died on Friday.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 12:53 PM.
