Carole Keeton Strayhorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carole Keeton Strayhorn
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| 36th Comptroller of Texas | |
| In office January 20, 1999 – January 20, 2007 |
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| Governor | George W. Bush Rick Perry |
| Preceded by | John Sharp |
| Succeeded by | Susan Combs |
| Railroad Commissioner of Texas | |
| In office December 10, 1994 – January 3, 1999 |
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| Governor | Ann Richards George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Mary Scott Nabers |
| Succeeded by | Michael Williams |
| 49th Mayor of Austin | |
| In office 1977 – February 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Jeff Friedman |
| Succeeded by | John Treviño Jr. (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Carole Stewart Keeton
September 13, 1939 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | March 26, 2025 (aged 85) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1986, 2014–2025) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (1986–2006) Independent (2006–2014) |
| Spouses | Barr McClellan (divorced) Curtis Rylander (divorced) Ed Strayhorn (divorced) |
| Children | 4, including Scott and Mark |
| Parent |
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| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BA) |
Carole Stewart Keeton (September 13, 1939 – March 26, 2025) was an important American politician from Texas. She was known by different names during her life, including Carole Keeton McClellan, Carole Keeton Rylander, and Carole Keeton Strayhorn.
She served as Texas's Comptroller of Public Accounts from 1999 to 2007. This job is like being the state's chief accountant, managing its money.
Carole Keeton was famous for being the first woman to hold several important political jobs in Austin and Texas. She was the first woman elected as Mayor of Austin and the first to serve three terms in a row. She was also the first woman elected to the Texas Railroad Commission and the first woman to become the state's Comptroller.
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About Carole Keeton
Carole Stewart Keeton was born in Austin, Texas, on September 13, 1939. Her father, W. Page Keeton, was a well-known lawyer and a dean at the University of Texas Law School.
She went to the University of Texas at Austin. There, she was part of a special group for women called the Orange Jackets.
Carole Keeton was married three times. She had four sons from her first marriage, including Scott and Mark. She used her married names during different parts of her career. Later in life, she went back to using her maiden name, Keeton.
Early Political Roles
Carole Keeton started her public service on the board of trustees for the Austin Independent School District from 1972 to 1977. She also led both the school board and the Austin Community College board.
Mayor of Austin
In 1977, she was elected Mayor of Austin. She held this position until 1983. She was the first woman to be elected mayor of Austin and served for three terms.
Texas Railroad Commission
After being mayor, she was appointed to the State Board of Insurance. Later, in 1994, she won an election to join the Railroad Commission of Texas. This commission mainly oversees the production of oil and natural gas in Texas. She was the first woman to be elected to this commission.
Serving as Comptroller
In 1998, Carole Keeton ran for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. This role involves managing the state's money and taxes. She won the election by a small number of votes.
She was re-elected as Comptroller in 2002. In that election, she received more votes than any other Republican candidate in Texas.
Tax Exemption Cases
As Comptroller, Carole Keeton was involved in some discussions about tax exemptions for religious groups. In 2003, a court case in Austin confirmed that Ethical Societies could be considered religious organizations for tax purposes. The court said that a group doesn't need to believe in a "Supreme Being" to be considered religious.
In 2004, her office briefly removed the tax-exempt status of a Unitarian Universalist Church in Denison, Texas. This was because the church's parent group does not have one set of religious teachings. However, her office quickly changed its decision after the news was reported.
Run for Governor
In 2006, Carole Keeton decided to run for Texas governor. She ran as an independent candidate, meaning she was not part of the main Republican or Democratic parties at that time.
She needed many signatures from voters to get her name on the ballot. She successfully collected over 223,000 signatures, which was much more than needed.
During her campaign, she wanted to be listed on the ballot as "Carole Keeton 'Grandma' Strayhorn." She said "Grandma" was a common nickname for her. However, the Secretary of State ruled that "Grandma" was a campaign slogan she used, not a long-standing professional nickname.
In the election, she placed third in the race for governor.
Political Party Changes
Carole Keeton's political party changed over the years. When she was on the school board and mayor, those positions were non-partisan, meaning they didn't have a party label.
She was a Democrat until the mid-1980s. In 1986, she became a Republican. She was elected Railroad Commissioner and Comptroller as a Republican.
In 2006, she ran for governor as an independent candidate. Then, in 2014, she returned to the Democratic Party.
Her Passing
Carole Keeton passed away at her home in Austin, Texas, on March 26, 2025, at the age of 85.
