Susan Combs
Susan Combs is the former Republican Texas Comptroller. She was first elected to the statewide office in 2006 and won re-election in 2010.
After giving serious consideration to a possible bid for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 2014, Combs announced on May 29, 2013, that she would not run for lieutenant governor, or any statewide office, in the 2014 elections.[1]
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 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
- B.A., Vassar College
- J.D., University of Texas Law School
Political career
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (2007-2015)
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.[3]
Open Book Texas
On December 3, 2008, Combs introduced Book Texas (dead link), 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 also directed a comprehensive study of ways to integrate data across Texas state government to make processes and systems more cohesive, standardized and efficient.[4]
Texas Transparency Check-up
Combs 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.[5]
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 was eligible for re-election, but announced on May 29, 2013, that she would not seek another term as state comptroller nor election to any Texas statewide office in 2014.[1]
Combs had previously been considered a potential Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in the 2014 election. The race would have pit her against incumbent David Dewhurst in the Republican primary.[6]
2010
On November 2, 2010, Susan Combs won re-election to the office of Texas Comptroller. She defeated Mary J. Ruwart (L) and Edward Lindsay (G) in the general election.
| Texas Comptroller, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Susan Combs Incumbent |
83.2% | 3,307,935 | |
| Libertarian | Mary J. Ruwart | 10.5% | 417,523 | |
| Green | Edward Lindsay | 6.3% | 252,233 | |
| Total Votes | 3,977,691 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State. | ||||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Susan Combs won election to the office of Texas Comptroller. She defeated Fred Head (D) and Mike Burris (L) in the general election.
| Texas Comptroller, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Susan Combs |
59.5% | 2,547,323 | |
| Democratic | Fred Head | 37% | 1,585,362 | |
| Libertarian | Mike Burris | 3.5% | 150,565 | |
| Total Votes | 4,283,250 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State. | ||||
2002
On November 5, 2002, Susan Combs won re-election to the office of Texas Agriculture Commissioner. She defeated Tom Ramsay (D), Vincent J. May (L) and Jane Woodward Elioseff in the general election.
| Texas Agriculture Commissioner, 2002 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Susan Combs Incumbent |
59.5% | 2,636,129 | |
| Democrat | Tom Ramsay | 37.8% | 1,674,372 | |
| Libertarian | Vincent J. May | 1.2% | 52,234 | |
| Green | Jane Woodward Elioseff | 1.5% | 64,818 | |
| Total Votes | 4,427,553 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State. | ||||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
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
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Susan + Combs + Texas + Comptroller"
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
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Texas Tribune, "Dewhurst plans to run for re-election," August 28, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Combs Bio
- ↑ Window on State Government, "Texas Comptroller Launches New State Spending Database," October 3, 2007
- ↑ Government Technology, "Susan Combs: Texas Comptroller makes State Finances an Open Book," March 3, 2009
- ↑ Susan Combs, " Transparency," accessed October 30, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "Dad: George P. Bush eyeing Texas land commissioner," November 14, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Carole Strayhorn (R) |
Texas Comptroller 2007–2015 |
Succeeded by Glenn Hegar (R) |
| Preceded by ' |
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture 1998-2007 |
Succeeded by Todd Staples (R) |
| Preceded by ' |
Texas House of Representatives 1993-1996 |
Succeeded by ' |
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