EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Mayor Oscar Leeser is preparing to step down this month, making way for Renard Johnson and a new administration.
As he wraps up his 12 years in office, Leeser reflected on the challenges he’s faced, the changes he’s seen in El Paso, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
The mayor navigated several challenges during his time in office, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the aftermath of the Walmart massacre in 2019, and ongoing border surges.
He said unity was key during turbulent times, both for him personally and for the city.
“I lost my mom. I lost my brother. All within a month because of the uncertainty in what was going on in our community,” Leeser said. “It was something that we needed to work together on as one.”
Despite the obstacles, Leeser says he is proud of the city’s efforts to support those in need, particularly migrants who arrived at the El Paso border.
“We all know that today our immigration process is still broken, and it’s been broken for over 30 years,” Leeser said. “With all these people coming, we made sure they were treated with respect. We made sure they had a warm meal, a place to stay, and that they could reunite with their family members.”
Leeser described his time in office as an “incredible ride” and highlighted the privilege of leading El Paso through historic moments.
“To sit here and say I’m the mayor of one of the largest cities in America, and I sit with the president of the United States, and we made not only El Paso but our nation a better place to live — it’s a dream come true,” Leeser said.
As for his hopes for the next city government, Leeser emphasized the need for unity and continued representation for all residents, even as political challenges evolve.
“We need to continue representing 100 percent of the people,” Leeser said. “But the challenge will be different because the people we worked with in Washington — President Biden, Secretary Gina Rodriguez, Tom Pettis — they’re gone.”
Leeser’s transition will mark the start of a new era for El Paso, with Johnson stepping into the role of mayor.
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