'One Tough Grandma' Fights for Stronger Education Program,

Bidding for Independent Spot in 2006 State Election

 Ray Buffington, editor-in-chief

SAN ANTONIO - “I’m one tough, smart, good-looking grandma.”

This is what Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and Independent candidate for governor, has to say about herself and her politics.

A native Texan, Strayhorn is currently running for the independent candidate spot for governor on the November ballot for the 2006 Texas legislature elections. A solid southerner, Strayhorn proudly projects the “one tough grandma” image that was given to her by her supporters.

“I’m one tough grandma when it comes to protecting education, our most precious resource for our kids,” Keeton said in a recent interview. “Now, really, I’m a soft-touch grandma when it comes to my own granddaughters.”

Strayhorn was in San Antonio recently to speak to college journalists and faculty from across the state at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association annual convention. She was the keynote speaker for the Hall of Fame luncheon.

Strayhorn has accomplished much in her career, and has been able to leave her mark in Texas history by achieving many “firsts” for Texas women. Among these are that she was the first woman president of the Austin school board, the first woman president of the Austin Community College board of trustees, the first woman mayor of Austin, and the first woman to be elected Texas Railroad Commissioner.

Strayhorn was once a public school teacher and holds education at the top of her priorities.

“My top three platforms are education, education, and education… Nothing is more important than education,” Strayhorn said. “The only way you’re going to make education number one is you have got to remove this governor.”

Not a fan of current Texas governor, Rick Perry, Strayhorn said she believes he lied his way to the top by offering promises of better funding for education, but failed to follow through.

“It is a shame to preach excellence and deliver mediocrity.” Strayhorn said.

Strayhorn has many ideas to improve the Texas educational system, the majority of them having to do with changing government jobs.

The possible independent candidate explained how didn’t believe it was right for the government to offer jobs and services from the inside, taking away from the businesses of the people.

“I have a theory called the ‘Yellow Pages’ theory,” Strayhorn explained. “I believe that no government should offer a job that you could find in the yellow pages.”

Funding, teacher salaries, and textbook costs are just a few targets on her hit list. She plans to give a raise of a minimum of $3,000 a year to all teachers and get rid of taxes on textbooks if she becomes governor.

“Forty million dollars a year is spent for taxes on textbooks,” Strayhorn said. “I have a slight idea where that money could be better used… Our Texas teachers are underpaid and underappreciated…”

In order to have a chance to run for governor, Strayhorn had to switch parties from Republican to Independent so she could attempt to get the Independent spot on the ballot. She has received much political criticism for such a move, but she claims that there is nothing Republican left in her.

“I am a Texan Independent,” Strayhorn explained. “Partisan politics are gone. I have always had Carole Keeton Strayhorn views. I still have Carole Keeton Strayhorn views, I am still the same person I have been all my life with a passion for education. I am not a Republican… I have set aside the partisan politics to run for governor, and I will die a Texan Independent.”

Strayhorn is currently traveling around Texas, rallying up support with her “tough” and “take-no-prisoners” grandma attitude. At the moment, her main goal, besides getting the Independent bid, is to have a debate between her and Governor Perry set up.

“I’ll do it anytime, anyplace, anywhere. You just bring him out.” Strayhorn said.

For more information on Strayhorn, visit her web site at www.onetoughgrandma.com.