Oscar Leeser

Oscar Leeser
Born	(1958-05-07) May 7, 1958 Chihuahua, Mexico
Occupation(s)	Public official, businessman
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Mayor of El Paso, Texas (2013–2017, 2021–2025)

Oscar Leeser (born May 7, 1958) is an American public official who held the position of 52nd mayor of El Paso, Texas from 2021 until 2025. Affiliated with the Democratic Party, he also previously occupied the mayoral office as the 50th mayor between 2013 and 2017.

Early life and education

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Oscar Leeser relocated to El Paso in 1967 at the age of nine, accompanied by his six siblings. He completed his secondary education at Coronado High School in El Paso. Leeser spent over three decades working with his father, Arthur Leeser, at their family’s Hyundai dealership located in El Paso. His mother, Rhoberta Leeser, gained recognition for her memorable phrase "My Oscar, he's such a good boy," which featured in advertisements for the dealership.

Religion

Leeser practices Judaism. His family members are interred at Temple Mount Sinai Cemetery.

Business and philanthropy

After completing high school, Leeser embarked on a career in the automotive sector, spending more than thirty years working with various dealerships in El Paso. In 2001, he advanced to the role of president and dealer operator at Hyundai of El Paso. Under his leadership, a store that previously sold only 15 vehicles monthly transformed into the top-selling dealership in El Paso overall. Additionally, his dealership ranked first among Hyundai dealers in the South Central Region and secured the ninth position nationwide among Hyundai outlets.

Mayor of El Paso

Leeser initially held the mayoral office from 2013 until 2017, after which he stepped back from public duties due to health concerns. He sought election again in 2020 and officially resumed office on January 5, 2021.

2013 election

In the 2013 mayoral race, Leeser competed against then-city councilmember Steve Ortega but did not immediately achieve the majority vote required to win outright. This led to a runoff election where Leeser decisively won with 74% of the vote, surpassing Ortega. He was inaugurated on June 23, 2013.

2020 election

Leeser returned as a mayoral candidate in the 2020 election. He garnered the highest vote count in the November general election and secured a second term by defeating Dee Margo in the December runoff.

Mayoral Powers

El Paso operates under a council-manager system characterized by mayors who typically hold limited ceremonial roles and possess minimal formal authority compared to city council members. Nevertheless, the city's charter grants the mayor several powers commonly associated with mayor-council or strong mayor frameworks. Specifically, the mayor can veto legislation passed by the city council except for ordinances aimed at removing the city manager or city attorney. Beyond veto authority, Leeser fulfills responsibilities typical of both government types, including representing El Paso in interactions with state and federal entities, delivering annual state of the city addresses, and casting tie-breaking votes. The mayor also appoints individuals to certain positions; however, key appointments such as that of chief of police are made by the city manager.

Rejection of Certificate of Obligation

In August 2021, Mayor Leeser exercised his veto power against a $96 million certificate of obligation measure that the El Paso city council had approved by a 6-2 vote. He justified this action by emphasizing the importance of fiscal prudence and respecting public opinion. Contrarily, city council member Cassandra Hernandez challenged Leeser’s assertion regarding popular support, underscoring the critical necessity for infrastructure improvements. El Paso County judge Ricardo Samaniego endorsed Leeser’s veto, describing it as a prudent choice. The funds from the proposed certificate were intended to support projects including parks, the El Paso Zoo, and the Mexican American Cultural Center.

Juvenile Curfew

In August 2023, Mayor Leeser chose to maintain an 11 p.m. curfew for minors in public spaces—a regulation that has been intermittently enforced in El Paso since 1991. This decision came through his veto of a unanimous city council resolution aimed at repealing the curfew ordinance. The council's effort to abolish the curfew sought to bring local regulations into compliance with House Bill 1819, a state law effective September 1, 2023, which prohibits municipalities and counties from enforcing existing curfews or enacting new ones on residents. Despite the mayor’s veto, the state legislation ultimately superseded local authority, resulting in the curfew’s termination to align with state mandates. Nevertheless, Mayor Leeser and other proponents have committed to lobbying state officials alongside like-minded cities to seek reversal of this law.

Immigration

Declaration of Emergency

In April 2023, Mayor Leeser joined counterparts from other border cities such as Brownsville in declaring a state of emergency in El Paso ahead of the anticipated expiration of Title 42 expulsion on May 11. This emergency status was initially valid for seven days and required city council approval for any extension. Leeser explained that declaring this emergency enabled El Paso to access federal funding essential for establishing and managing temporary migrant shelters and for maintaining public order by clearing streets. These shelters were intended as short-term accommodations for migrants en route to their ultimate destinations. The emergency period began on May 1 and concluded on May 8. During the announcement, Leeser emphasized that migrants would be provided with temporary public shelter and stressed that camping on city streets—as had occurred in late 2022—would not be permitted.

By September 2023, confronted with another surge of migrants and asylum-seekers, Leeser held a press briefing affirming that the city possessed sufficient capacity to house incoming individuals. He noted that these asylum-seekers generally did not plan extended stays in El Paso but required resources to continue their journeys nationwide. While acknowledging considerable federal assistance during the ongoing border challenges, Leeser conceded that comprehensive systemic reforms remain necessary.

Facilities for Migrants

In September 2023, Mayor Leeser backed acquiring the long-vacant Morehead Middle School from the El Paso Independent School District at a cost of $3.8 million. He cited the high expense associated with housing migrants in hotels as justification for this purchase, which would be funded through federal COVID-19 and FEMA resources. However, concerns were raised by a local neighborhood association president regarding the proximity of a migrant shelter to Charles Q. Murphree School, an active educational institution nearby. The association leader proposed that selling the property to a private entity might generate tax revenue instead.

Transporting Migrants

Beginning in 2022, Texas initiated programs transporting migrants by bus across various destinations nationwide. Following this model in July 2022, Mayor Leeser offered voluntary free transportation options for asylum-seekers to Chicago or New York City. Although participation was optional, those who declined were compelled to remain in local shelters or live on city streets.

In September 2023, Leeser and Deputy City Manager Mario D'Agostino resumed migrant busing operations utilizing five charter buses destined for New York City, Denver, and Chicago. Mayor Leeser reiterated that these transportation services are voluntary and that asylum-seekers select their preferred destination city.

Duranguito

The dispute over the proposed demolition of the Duranguito neighborhood was settled in January 2023 when the city council voted against the plan. Later, in September 2023, the El Paso city council directed Mayor Leeser to draft a letter to the Texas Historical Commission recommending that Duranguito be included within the Downtown El Paso Historic District. This new correspondence would override a previous letter from former mayor Dee Margo, which had sought to exclude Duranguito from the National Register of Historic Places. The timing of sending this letter remains at Leeser's sole discretion.

Although Leeser decided not to proceed with demolishing Duranguito for the multipurpose center, he emphasized that the city intends to identify an alternative location for the development. Additionally, he mentioned that allocated funds could instead be invested in enhancing the current El Paso Convention Center.

City Manager Termination and Search

Tommy Gonzalez served as El Paso’s city manager starting in 2014, but his contract stirred controversy due to its $425,000 yearly salary, supplemented by a monthly vehicle allowance, health and life insurance benefits, and a retirement plan. In February 2023, the city council was evenly divided at 4-4 on whether to terminate Gonzalez’s contract without cause. Mayor Leeser cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of termination. This action aligned with a campaign promise Leeser made during his 2020 mayoral run.

In March 2023, Leeser nominated Cary Westin to serve as Interim City Manager and actively supported her appointment. The city council subsequently approved Westin’s interim leadership role.

Personal Tragedy and the COVID-19 Pandemic

During December 2020, Leeser endured the loss of both his brother and mother. George Ira Leeser and Rhoberta Leeser succumbed to complications related to COVID-19 that year. In 2021, Leeser reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott requesting authorization to maintain mask mandates. Throughout this period, he adhered strictly to the directives issued by the CDC as well as governmental regulations. Despite public demands for an examination of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process in El Paso, Leeser declined to approve such an audit.

External links

Media related to Oscar Leeser at Wikimedia Commons

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