el paso’s first woman
state legislator
BY JOSEPH R.M. LONGO
Part One:
Anita Blair, election of 1952
In 1952 the El Paso election season was full
of many heated and interesting races, such as
the county judge race in which the incumbent,
Victor Gilbert, was fighting off a challenge
from Hugh McGovern. The media and
political observers did not pay a lot of
attention to the open seat for a place in the
Texas House of Representatives.
Maybe everybody thought that the winner
would be the well-respected Police Chief
Willard Cline Woolverton or County
Commissioner Scott Skidmore. However,
neither the decorated police chief nor the
county commissioner won. Instead a thirty-six
-year old blind national freelance safety
lecturer named Anita Lee Blair won.
Though underfunded and politically
inexperienced, Anita Blair shook the male
dominated political establishment and paved
the way for future El Paso women politicians.
The story of the Sun City’s first woman state
legislator is the story of how one determined
woman stood up against powerful influences
by exercising her independence and standing
up for her principles even if that meant
standing alone.
Who was Anita Blair and why did she get
involved in politics?
Anita Blair with her first seeing eye dog.
24 Cenizo Summer 2020