Oscar Leeser

Oscar Leeser (born May 7, 1958) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 53rd Mayor of El Paso, Texas from 2013 to 2017.[1][2] He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Oscar Leeser
53rd Mayor of El Paso
In office
June 24, 2013 – June 26, 2017
Preceded byJohn Cook
Succeeded byDee Margo
Personal details
Born (1958-05-07) May 7, 1958
Chihuahua, Mexico
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionBusinessman, politician

Early life and education

Leeser was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 9, living in Sun City and then afterwards settling in El Paso, Texas. He started his first job at 16. Following graduation from Coronado High School, Leeser began his career in the auto industry, working with several dealerships in El Paso. Leeser was given a career opportunity in 2001, when he became president and dealer operator of Hyundai of El Paso. He had turned a local store that was only selling 15 cars a month into today's number one overall dealer in El Paso. His store is also the number one Hyundai dealer in the South Central Region and ninth in the nation for Hyundai dealers. He amassed over three decades of experience in business, culminating in his service as owner and president of Hyundai of El Paso before becoming mayor.[3]

Community work

Leeser serves as a member of the UMC El Paso Children's Hospital Foundation Board and also holds several professional positions as well. He is the President of the Hyundai South Central Region, a member of the National Dealer Council, serves on the National Parts and Service Committee, and the Hyundai Advertising Committee. In addition, he has also been active in supporting many local charities and youth organizations.

Mayor of El Paso

2013 election

Leeser was elected mayor on May 14, 2013 after defeating city council member Steve Ortega. Both Leeser and Ortega ran as nonpartisan candidates as the city of El Paso only holds nonpartisan elections. Ortega had placed first and second with 47% and 21% of the vote, respectively, and because no candidate received a majority, a runoff election was held on June 15 which Leeser won. He took office on June 24, 2013.

2017 election

Mayor Oscar Leeser is eligible to run for a second term in office, but announced in July 2016 that he would not seek another term. Many had thought it was due to the fact that Leeser had a cancer related surgery in 2016, but states that his decision is not because of his health. Instead, it is because he "ran to do things I thought were really important for our community and I did that." Leeser was succeeded by Republican Dee Margo, whom he endorsed in the runoff election.[4]

Personal life

Leeser is married to his childhood sweetheart Lisa; he is a father of four and a grandfather of five.

Electoral history
2013 El Paso, Texas mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Oscar Leeser[5] 33,266 74.32
Nonpartisan Steve Ortega 11,492 25.68
Total votes 44,758 100

References
  1. Mayor Oscar Leeser-Government-City of El Paso, Texas
  2. Voters choose Oscar Leeser as El Paso's next mayor (KTSM.com article)
  3. Oscar Leeser, El Paso mayoral candidate (KVIA.com article)
  4. http://www.kvia.com/news/el-paso/mayor-leeser-five-city-reps-endorse-dee-margo-for-mayor/491490887
  5. http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/TX/El_Paso/46985/117389/Web01/en/summary.html

Media related to Oscar Leeser at Wikimedia Commons


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