Susan Combs
| Susan Combs | |
|---|---|
| 37th Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2007 |
|
| Governor | Rick Perry |
| Preceded by | Carole Strayhorn |
| 10th Texas Agriculture Commissioner | |
| In office January 5, 1999 – January 1, 2007 |
|
| Governor | George W. Bush (1999-2000) Rick Perry (2000-2007) |
| Preceded by | Rick Perry |
| Succeeded by | Todd Staples |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 26, 1945 San Antonio, Texas |
| Spouse(s) | Joe W. Duran |
| Children | Three sons |
| Residence | Austin, Texas |
| Alma mater | (B.A.) Vassar College |
| Occupation | Ranching |
| Website | Window on State Government |
Susan Combs (born February 26, 1945,[1] in San Antonio) is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Texas, currently serving as the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts.
She was initially elected as comptroller on November 7, 2006, to succeed Carole Strayhorn, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for governor as an Independent in the same election.
Prior to her tenure as Comptroller, Combs had served two terms as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture from 1999–2007, taking the reins as the first woman elected to that office in 1998, having succeeded commissioner Rick Perry, who was instead elected as lieutenant governor. Combs also served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives.[2]
In 2010, Combs was unopposed for a second term as comptroller in the Republican primary, and she faced no Democratic opponent in the November 2 general election. Unsuccessful nominees of the Green and Libertarian parties did seek the position.
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Background [edit]
Combs grew up in a ranching family from West Texas. She runs a cow-calf operation on her family's ranch in Brewster County; the ranch has been in her family since the turn of the 20th century. She lives in Austin with her husband, Joe W. Duran (born June 1, 1942), a computer scientist. She is the mother of three sons.
Combs graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, majoring in French and religion. She worked in international advertising in New York City, in the financial markets on Wall Street, and for the U.S. government before returning to Texas to obtain credentials from the University of Texas Law School at Austin. After graduation from law school, she served as an assistant district attorney in Dallas, Texas.
Combs served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives from 1993–1996, when she joined the staff of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison as the lawmaker's state director.
Combs serves on the boards of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in Fort Worth and the Texas Wildlife Association. She has also served on the boards the Texas Beef Council and the Texas Production Credit Association.[3]
One Vote [edit]
Combs' first electoral outing was for the 47th legislative district, in Travis County. She won the run-off for the Republican nomination by one vote.
References [edit]
- ^ "Susan Combs". congress.org. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- ^ http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/scbio.html
- ^ http://www.greenbeam.com/features/they021599.stm
External links [edit]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rick Perry |
Texas Agriculture Commissioner 1999-2007 |
Succeeded by Todd Staples |
| Preceded by Carole Keeton Strayhorn |
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 2007–present |
Incumbent |
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- 1945 births
- Living people
- People from Austin, Texas
- People from San Antonio, Texas
- People from Dallas, Texas
- People from Brewster County, Texas
- People from New York City
- Vassar College alumni
- University of Texas at Austin alumni
- Texas Republicans
- Members of the Texas House of Representatives
- Agriculture commissioners of Texas
- American ranchers
- Comptrollers in the United States
- Women state legislators in Texas
