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Susan Combs
| Susan Combs | ||
 | ||
| Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2007 - Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| 2014 | ||
| Years in position | 6 | |
| Party | Republican | |
| Predecessor | Carole Strayhorn (R) | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $150,000 | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 2, 2010 | |
| First elected | November 7, 2006 | |
| Campaign $ | $20,659,852 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Texas Agriculture Commissioner | ||
| 1998-2007 | ||
| Texas House of Representatives | ||
| 1992-1996 | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Vassar College | |
| J.D. | University of Texas Law School | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | February 26, 1945 | |
| Religion | Christian | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
Contents |
Biography
Combs was initially elected as comptroller on November 7, 2006, succeeding Carole Strayhorn, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for governor as an Independent in the same election. Prior to her tenure as Comptroller, Combs served two terms as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture from 1999–2007, having succeeded commissioner Rick Perry, who was instead elected as lieutenant governor. Combs has also worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the City of Dallas, Texas and as a state director for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.[2]
Education
- Vassar College, B.A.
- University of Texas Law School, J.D.
Political Career
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (2007-present)
Transparency advocacy
"Where the money goes"
Combs spearheaded the creation of an online portal for state expenditures, “Where the Money Goes.” The basis for the site began with Combs’ first week in office in January 2007, when she posted detailed expenditure information for the Comptroller’s office online. Before transparency legislation was signed into Texas law on June 15, 2007, Combs had already built the Web site detailing expenditures of 24 agencies responsible for 80 percent of the state’s spending.
The site was later re-launched under the name “Where the Money Goes” in October 2007. The site now offers users a free, searchable database of all state agency expenditures. The four major search functions on the portal include state agency search, vendor search, spending category search and purchasing code search, a feature that allows users to “drill down” to item levels for the biggest agencies.
Open Book Texas
On Dec. 3, 2008, Combs introduced Book Texas, a three-part set of initiatives aimed at improving government spending, transparency and accounting accuracy. The Comptroller’s Texas Smart Buy initiative gives state agencies and local governments access to an online shopping cart to purchase goods and services through state-negotiated contracts, effectively leveraging the state of Texas’ bulk buying power to receive lower prices. Combs is also directing a comprehensive study of ways to integrate data across Texas state government to make processes and systems more cohesive, standardized and efficient.
Texas Transparency Check-up
Combs had declared herself in support of transparency for the state budget and state expenses. Most important in terms of transparency, Combs unveiled a new Web site, Texas Transparency Check-Up, which expands the Comptroller’s previous online accountability efforts and encourages transparency at all levels of Texas government finance. The Web site offers transparency guidance to local governments and provides Texans an opportunity to see how well their local governments stack up in offering online access to financial information.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner (1998-2007)
Combs served as Texas Agriculture Commissioner from 1998 to 2007.
Texas House of Representatives (1993-1996)
Combs represented District 47 in the Texas House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996.
Elections
2014
Combs is a potential Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in the 2014 election. If she decides to enter the race, she will face incumbent David Dewhurst in the Republican primary.[3]
2010
| Comptroller of Public Accounts 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
 Susan Combs (R)
|
3,307,935 | 83.16% | ||
| Mary J. Ruwart (L) | 417,523 | 10.49% | ||
| Edward Lindsay (G) | 252,233 | 6.34% | ||
Campaign donors
Comprehensive donor information for Combs is available dating back to 1998. Based on available campaign finance records, Combs raised a total of $20,659,853 during that time period. This information was last updated on May 9, 2013.[5]
| Susan Combs's Campaign Contribution History | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| 2012 | Texas Comptroller |  |
$5,308,432 | |
| 2010 | Texas Comptroller |  |
$2,744,001 | |
| 2008 | Texas Comptroller | |
$2,963,578 | |
| 2006 | Texas Comptroller | |
$4,621,504 | |
| 2004 | TX Agriculture Commissioner | |
$1,800,409 | |
| 2002 | TX Agriculture Commissioner | |
$1,782,234 | |
| 1998 | TX Agriculture Commissioner | |
$1,439,695 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $20,659,853 | |||
1998-2010
Ballotpedia collects information on campaign donors for each year in which a candidate or incumbent is running for election. The following table offers a breakdown of Susan Combs's donors each year.[6] Click [show] for more information.
| Susan Combs's Campaign Contributions | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Texas Comptroller | 2006 Texas Comptroller | 2002 Texas Agriculture Commissioner | 1998 Texas Agriculture Commissioner | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Raised | $2,744,001 | $4,621,504 | $1,782,234 | $1,439,695 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Raised by General Election Opponent | $1,037 | $85,884 | $253,887 | $187,438 | |||||||||||||||
| Top 5 contributors | Bob Perry | $150,000 | Bob Perry | $150,000 | Bob Perry | $80,000 | TX Farm Bureau AG Fund | $25,000 | |||||||||||
| Grass Roots Institute of Texas | $75,000 | Doylene Perry | $100,000 | Lonnie Pilgrim | $76,000 | Mr. & Mrs. Richard Salwen | $22,525 | ||||||||||||
| Ryan & Co. | $75,000 | Lonnie Pilgrim | $60,786 | H-E-B Grocery | $30,000 | Lonnie Pilgrim | $20,000 | ||||||||||||
| Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson | $50,000 | Peter Holt | $55,000 | William McMinn | $25,000 | Vinson & Elkins TX PAC | $17,500 | ||||||||||||
| AT&T and Independent Bankers Association of Texas | $35,000 each | Steve Sterquell | $46,399 | Mary Ralph Lowe | $25,000 | Bob & Doylene Perry | $17,500 | ||||||||||||
| Individuals | $1,474,257 | $2,947,612 | $1,416,536 | $1,143,843 | |||||||||||||||
| Institutions | $1,237,041 | $1,491,275 | $345,908 | $250,592 | |||||||||||||||
| In-state donations | $2,546,433 | $4,197,932 | $1,739,459 | $1,410,939 | |||||||||||||||
| Out-of-state donations | $170,297 | $278,457 | $42,775 | $28,731 | |||||||||||||||
Personal
Combs grew up in a ranching family from West Texas. She lives in Austin with her husband, Joe W. Duran. She is the mother of three sons.[2]
Recent news
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This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term "Susan + Combs + Texas + Comptroller"
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
Susan Combs News Feed
- Texas Comptroller Susan Combs missed most CPRIT oversight meetings - Dallas Morning News
- Lizard Protection Bill Caught In Oil Politics - Texas Tribune
- Combs endorses Senate's use of rainy day money - Dallas Morning News (blog)
- Comptroller Susan Combs Distributes $522 million in Monthly Sales Tax - Pleasanton Express
- Comptroller Susan Combs Distributes $669 Million in Monthly Sales Tax ... - Gilmer Mirror
- Texas Comptroller reminds Texans the ENERGY STAR
- Banned from state biz, Texas contractor cashes in on school districts - Kansas Watchdog
- Texas Lunch Links: Special Session, Texas Barbecue, and Combs' $1.2 B Piggy ... - Burnt Orange Report
- Sales tax revenue down a little for May, still ahead for the year - The Keene Star
- Despite spotty losses, sales tax revenues continue slow rebound - The Springtown Epigraph
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See also
External links
- Official campaign website
- Combs campaign Facebook
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1998
- Americans for Tax Reform Center for Fiscal Accountability, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs to Discuss Transparency Initiatives on Wednesday (audiocast available), Dec. 1, 2008
- Susan Comb's bio
- Houston Conservative, Statement on Comptroller Susan Combs’ Transparency Initiatives, Dec. 3, 2008
- Gov Tech, Texas Grades State Agencies and Local Governments on Financial Transparency, Dec. 5, 2008
References
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Dewhurst plans to run for re-election," August 28, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Combs Bio
- ↑ Associated Press, "Dad: George P. Bush eyeing Texas land commissioner," November 14, 2012
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, 1992-current Election History
- ↑ Follow the Money, " Career fundraising for Susan Combs," accessed May 9, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money.org
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Texas House of Representatives 1993-1996 |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture 1998-2007 |
Succeeded by Todd Staples (R) |
| Preceded by Carole Strayhorn (R) |
Texas Comptroller 2007–present |
Succeeded by NA |
| ||||||||||||||
