On May 27 , 1989 a jubilant El Paso city representative , Suzanne “ Suzie ” Azar , declared victory over her opponent by winning 65 percent of the vote . Azar made history ; she was the first woman mayor of El Paso . The voters were ready for a woman city executive . Azar ’ s victory made many women proud . There was one woman who had worked toward this goal and dreamed of this day but who was not there to celebrate the historic moment . Her name was Polly Harris .

A flamboyant , witty , optimistic , strong-willed city representative , Polly Harris was one of the most colorful and recognizable women in recent El Paso history . She was a local actress and businesswoman who decided to jump into politics , a world then dominated by men . She held her own with her male colleagues . She made the men take her seriously , she spoke her mind , but she was no bomb thrower . Harris called herself the “ alderbroad ,” a play on the word alderman , and wore a flower on the lapel of her blouse which became her trademark . She wanted to stand out and make a statement .

Harris did more than just dream about El Paso having a woman mayor — she saw it as a reality . For many years there was little doubt that she would be the first woman mayor . She was the only woman who seemed willing to make history .

Pauline Adair Elstein was born in Kansas City , Missouri , the only child of two doctors , Mordical Abraham Elstein and Lillian Harris . Lillian Harris was the first licensed woman optometrist in the state . Mordical , known as “ Mordy ,” born in Bucharest , Romania , was a doctor at a Kansas City hospital .

Harris earned an associate degree in art from Kansas City Junior College in 1943 and a bachelor ’ s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1945 . In 1949 , she married electrical engineer Paul Harris . The couple moved to Las Cruces , New Mexico that same year .

In 1950 they moved to El Paso . From 1950 to 1956 , Harris worked for two El Paso radio stations ; KSET and KEPO . From 1956 to 1968 she worked in advertising along with stints in the early days of television . In 1968 , along with Paul , she founded Harris and Harris public relations , which was highly successful with many high profile clients .

Since the age of nine , theater had been a regular hangout for Polly Harris . She learned every aspect of the stage and by age 17 she directed her first play . She told reporters that she grew up with a stage presence , encouraged by her mother .

Continued on Page 28 .