Carole  Keeton

STRAYHORN, CAROLE KEETON (~) Carole Keeton Strayhorn was the first woman in history elected Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. She was re-elected with the highest vote total of any winning Republican in the nation and more votes than any woman candidate of either party. She is a fiscal conservative and “one tough grandma” watching out for Texas‘ who practices what she preaches: cutting spending, enlisting state employees as front-line soldiers in the battle against waste, providing incentives for innovation and shaking the rafters of state government until taxpayers are treated like satisfied customers and public policy partners. In 1999, Comptroller Strayhorn was the first recipient of the Friends of Texas Taxpayers Award from the Citizens for a Sound Economy.

Often called a trailblazer, Strayhorn has a resume full of “firsts” - first woman elected to the Texas Railroad Commission - and re-elected in 1996 with the highest vote total in a statewide contested race; first woman mayor of Austin and the only mayor elected for three successive terms; first woman president of the Austin School Board, and first woman president of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees. A longtime friend of law enforcement, Comptroller Strayhorn is a lifetime honorary member of the Austin Police Association.

Comptroller Strayhorn‘s lifelong record of achievement and public service is rooted in her passion for education. She began her career as a public school teacher. She was later elected to the Austin School Board with almost 75 percent of the vote. She also served as president of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees. Comptroller Strayhorn is applying her education expertise to make sure more of every tax dollar goes directly into the classroom where it belongs. Comptroller Strayhorn describes herself as an “education watchdog” for the people of Texas. She is a recipient of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association‘s Friend of Education Award.

At the Texas Railroad Commission, she led the fight for trucking deregulation, and reorganizing, downsizing and modernizing the Railroad Commission for the first time in its 104-year history. As a former two-term appointee of President Bush to the National Petroleum Council, she understands the national and international implications of energy issues. Comptroller Strayhorn serves on the Board of Directors of the John Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University.

Comptroller Strayhorn is a native Texan and a government honors graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She is married to Ed Strayhorn, the founder and president of the oldest tennis court construction business in Texas. Mr. Strayhorn also is an accomplished jewelry designer whose works are on display in galleries across America.

They are the proud parents of five grown sons, and the proud grandparents of four young granddaughters.

Information provided by Comptroller Strayhorn.