Suzanne Azar (née Schmeck, born 1946)[1] is a politician, aviator and former mayor of El Paso, Texas. Azar was the first woman to serve as mayor in El Paso.[1] Azar lives in Central El Paso.[2] She is also a flight instructor and owner of a fixed-base operator and flight school;[3] and is a member of the women pilots' organization, the Ninety-Nines.[1] Azar has been inducted into the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame.[1]
Suzie Azar | |
---|---|
43rd Mayor of El Paso | |
In office 1989–1991 | |
Preceded by | Jonathan W. Rogers |
Succeeded by | William S. Tilney |
Azar was born in Bay City, Michigan in 1946 and as a young person was a member of the Civil Air Patrol.[1] She moved to El Paso in 1970 and attended the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).[1]
Azar was sworn into office as mayor of El Paso in 1989.[4] During her campaign, she was called a "cheerleader" by her opponent, and Azar turned the intended insult to "her advantage, campaigning with pom poms and calling herself an unabashed cheerleader for El Paso".[2] She won the campaign for mayor with a 65% majority vote.[5]