Susan Combs to Seek State Comptroller Job in 2006 Election

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 05-08-04 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Combs to seek state comptroller job in 2006 election Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP) — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs confirmed Friday she's planning to run for state comptroller in 2006, a job now held by fellow Republican Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

Combs wouldn't divulge any conversations she's had with Strayhorn, but said she doesn't expect Strayhorn to run for the office in the next election.

"I think it'll be an open primary," Combs said in a telephone interview.

Strayhorn is considered a potential candidate for governor in 2006, although she won't say whether she's seeking the state's top job.

"I love being comptroller, and I am (a) 24-7 comptroller. That is my total focus right now," Strayhorn said Friday.

Strayhorn said Combs has spoken with her several times over the past year expressing her interest in running for comptroller — the state's chief financial post — if Strayhorn doesn't run again.

She has publicly criticized incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry, most recently over his controversial school finance proposal.

Their clashes have fueled speculation that Strayhorn is plotting to run against him in two years.

"Texas politics isn't just a contact sport, it's a bloody contact sport. ... I say that tongue in cheek," Strayhorn said. "I care passionately about education. I care passionately about health care. I care passionately about the state of Texas."

Combs, meanwhile, said she'll remain active as a "pedal to the metal" agriculture commissioner throughout her second four-year term working on water issues, school nutrition and rural economic development.

The comptroller's job is appealing to her because it deals with how government is structured and how tax money is spent, she said.

"It's an intellectually fascinating job," she said.

Combs, 59, is a lawyer and fourth-generation rancher with a cattle operation in West Texas. She was a Dallas County prosecutor, served in the Texas House for two terms and worked for Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison before being elected agriculture commissioner in 1998. She oversees the Texas Department of Agriculture and its annual budget of $1.9 billion.

Combs said she decided to say now what elected post she is seeking in 2006 because she continues to be asked about it.

"People have been asking me. I get calls a lot," she said.

Her campaign fund has about $625,000 in cash on hand, and now her fund-raising activities will be focused on a run for comptroller, she said.

"It's appropriate to say what it is I'm asking them for," Combs said.

[Theodore R.]

I did not realize that Susan Combs had been in the legislature. I believe that she supports "abortion rights."

[WestTexasWend]

The West Texas farmers I know have no respect for Combs (or for Ann Venaman at the USDA), so they'll be happy to see her go...

[Theodore R.]

Why do West TX farmers have no respect for Combs or Veneman? I would like to know. I never hear anything about Combs in the news.

[SwinneySwitch]

Texas Carrot Growers love Susan!

[WestTexasWend]

A lot of it has to do with both women's tendency to court consumers and commodity houses while ignoring producers.
'Course, there's more votes and glamour on the consumer side (see carrot pic), and a heck of a lot of campaign money rolling in from ADM, Cargill and others, but these people are still paid to administer and assist producers...
sexy or not. Since it's the small farmer/rancher/producer that keeps things cheap for consumers, they deserve respect, but they're don't get it from Combs or Venamen (and, BTW, Combs has more on the ball than Venamen according to those who've seen both of them in public hearings).