Susan Combs

Susan Combs (born February 26, 1945, in San Antonio) is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Texas, who served until January 13, 2015, as the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts.

She was initially elected as comptroller on November 7, 2006, to succeed Carole Strayhorn, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for governor as an Independent in the same election.

Prior to her tenure as Comptroller, Combs had served two terms as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture from 1999–2007, taking the reins as the first woman elected to that office in 1998, having succeeded commissioner Rick Perry, who was instead elected as lieutenant governor. Combs also served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives.

In 2010, Combs was unopposed for a second term as comptroller in the Republican primary, and she faced no Democratic opponent in the November 2 general election. Unsuccessful nominees of the Green and Libertarian parties did seek the position.

On May 29, 2013, The Dallas Morning News and the Austin American Statesman both confirmed Combs would not seek reelection to a third term as Comptroller or any other statewide office in the 2014 elections.