Whether he’s standing up for domestic partner’s rights or working on his 1965 Daimler engine, John Cook has never shied away from rolling up his sleeves and getting some dirt under his fingernails. For the last eight years, John Cook has served as El Paso’s Mayor and has helped navigate the city into an era of change and prosperity. As the leader of our city, Mayor Cook has been a glowing example to the rest of the United States exemplifying not only what a Mayor should be but also representing the overall friendliness of El Paso and our emerging progressive stance in the American economy.
A lot of things have changed in the Sun City since Mayor Cook first came into his office. Asarco and City Hall were demolished, $2 million dollars in Quality of Life bonds were approved, the construction of a new Triple A Baseball stadium is well underway and our city has been making headlines all over America.
“We’ve demonstrated in the past that when given the opportunity, El Paso can be a very progressive city – it takes leadership for you to be a progressive city,” says Mayor Cook, “What you’ve seen over the last years under this administration is that we’ve adopted a lot of progressive ideas.” These ideas, like a master plan for Downtown El Paso and the opening and expansion of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, are now realities that raise the quality of life for El Pasoans and make the city a more desirable place to move to.
Mayor Cook has enjoyed a catalogue of personal accolades over the years as well, most recently having been named the world’s fifth-best mayor by the City Mayors Foundation, an international think tank. “I really think that the only thing that got me that nomination was the issue regarding domestic partners” Mayor Cook reflects. The issue he refers to is his tie-breaking vote in support of health benefits for domestic partners, a battle that began in 2009 and resulted in a heated effort led by certain citizens to boot him from his office.
“What kept me going was something that my parents taught me when I was growing up,” he pauses for a moment, “you need to take what’s right and make that popular, rather than take what’s popular and make that right. If in your heart you know it’s right, and then do it.” Wise words from the man who, when I greeted him and asked how he was doing, responded, “I’m blessed.”
Mayor John Cook has been a cornerstone to El Paso government for so long that it may come as a shock to many El Pasoans to see a brand new administration take hold of El Paso in 2013. City Representative Steve Ortega and businessman Oscar Leeser have been vying for the Mayors position and so far, it’s been a good clean race.
“I’m going to compliment both candidates at this point,” Cook says, “Nobody has picked up handfuls of mud and thrown it at the other candidate. What it’s going to come down to is leadership style and personality.” Whoever wins the Mayoral election will have some big boots to fill. Mayor Cook has not only led the city with tenacious grace and unflinching diplomacy but he’s also become a favorite amongst El Pasoans.
This year alone, he was inducted to the Fort Bliss Hall of Fame and was presented with a humanitarian award from Project Amistad. Last year, he was elected Official of the Year by the Rio Grande Council of Governments. Years prior, he’s been named Citizen of the Year, Newsmaker of the Year and Volunteer of the Year by various organizations.
It’s evident from his personal life and from the initiatives that he’s directed, such as the “Mayor’s 100 Teens”, that service to our country and city is important. His advice for citizens trying to make a difference in the community is to, “find something that interests you and do that. Whether it’s with a non-profit or a private corporation or working with the government, find one of those avenues and join rather than trying to reinvent the wheel and doing something brand new.”
It’s going to be difficult to say goodbye to a Mayor who’s had such a lasting and positive impact on El Paso. Once he’s out of office, he plans to tinker with his 7 classic cars – especially that ’65 Daimler – and finish his music album ‘John: Old & New’. Despite having so many successes in his life, there is one thing he’s particularly proud of: his ability to stay connected with his constituents.
“Mayors can get wrapped up in their own little Universe and become isolated from the people that they are supposed to be representing. All elected officials fall into that temptation.” He pauses for a moment, “If you want to come to me with a complaint or an idea, I’m open to it. We follow up with every single person. When people asked me what kind of Mayor I wanted to be, I told them, ‘I want to be the people’s Mayor.’”
PHOTO: HECTOR RIVEROLL JR.