Giving up the fight for 'Grandma'

Looks like the end of the road for Carole Keeton Strayhorn's attempts to get herself called "Grandma" on the November gubernatorial ballot: A state district judge ruled Thursday that the nickname flap was out of her jurisdiction and Strayhorn dropped her lawsuit seeking to officially make herself "Grandma."

Strayhorn, whose campaign slogan is "One Tough Grandma," started her quest for nickname fame earlier this summer, but there was doubt that she'd be allowed to use "Grandma" as a ballot nickname because state election law prohibits candidates from using campaign slogans on the ballot. Strayhorn countered that a lot of people, including her grandkids, for cryin' out loud, call her Grandma, so everyone else should, too. (The real concern, apparently, was that people wouldn't know who Strayhorn — who has held public office under a variety of last names — is, but they would be able to latch onto "Grandma.") Earlier this month, Secretary of State Roger Williams ruled against "Grandma," prompting Strayhorn's suit that hit the dead end in Judge Suzanne Covington's court yesterday when Covington said the state Supreme Court would have to take up the matter.

Strayhorn disagreed with Williams's decision, saying, "I am not a slogan. I am Grandma." She had even accused Williams of acting in league with Gov. Rick Perry, who appointed him, but now she seems focused on coming debates, including one sponsored by the Chronicle and KHOU and another being put together by the Dallas Morning News and KERA. "I'm ready to debate any time, any place, anywhere," Strayhorn said.

Jason Stanford, a spokesman for Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Christopher Bell — who will be able to call himself "Chris" on the ballot — suggested Strayhorn backed down from the legal fight because it was making her look ridiculous. "She's turned from a character to a caricature," Stanford said.