SAN ANTONIO – As the first female mayor of the Alamo City, Lila Cockrell, 92, is happy to now have some company as the city greets Mayor Ivy Taylor as the second woman to lead the city.
Fellow City Council members elected Taylor, formerly the councilwoman representing District 2, as interim mayor to fill the seat vacated by Julian Castro as he heads to Washington, D.C., to become U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
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"I've been waiting for another woman to get to be the mayor," said Cockrell.
She was elected mayor of San Antonio in 1975 and served four terms prior to serving on the City Council beginning in 1963.
Cockrell said she never felt pressure as a female pioneer, but did feel deep responsibility.
"I wanted to try to do the best job possible and not leave a door closed that other women would not be able to have access," she said.
Another woman has now accessed that door nearly 40 years later with Taylor at the city's helm.
Cockrell's advice to Taylor is not female-focused, but a solid tip for any leader-- always consider both sides.
"Sometimes you have friends, people, other leaders who would come in and say, 'Oh, we have this great idea.' But if you say yes too quickly, you can later find out something that perhaps was not what you should have said yes too," said the former mayor.
Leading ladies in powerful positions have become much more common since Cockrell left office, something she is proud of.
"I just wish her well. I think its very exciting," she said. "I'm very happy for her. I'm happy for the city."
Taylor will serve as interim mayor until the city election in May 2015.