Carole Keeton Strayhorn won't get to be called "Grandma" on the November ballot, but fellow independent candidate for governor Kinky Friedman will get to use his nickame, the state's elections chief ruled Monday.
Secretary of State Roger Williams decided that Friedman's given first name will also appear. Friedman had wanted to be known simply as Kinky Friedman, but he will appear on the ballot as "Richard 'Kinky' Friedman."
Williams ruled that Strayhorn's use of "Grandma" is a slogan and therefore not allowed on the ballot under the Texas Election Code.
Strayhorn, the state comptroller since 1999, contends many Texans know her as "Grandma," and she calls herself "one tough grandma." She's running in her first election with her current last name. The last time she ran for office, in 2002, before she remarried, her last name was Rylander - a name she'd held for years in public office.
Both independents are trying to oust Republican Gov. Rick Perry. Democrat Chris Bell and Libertarian James Werner also are running for governor.