RHOME - Evelyn Obenour, 79, neither looks nor acts her age. But the retired florist, who's widowed, sings in the choir, and loves scrapbooking was sworn in Friday night as the city's newest mayor.
Friends asked her to consider running for the top job in this Wise County town and she couldn't resist the lure of politics.
"When I told my family and my friends, the comment was, 'You go girl!' Now I'm still hearing 'You go girl!'"
After all the votes were counted last weekend, Obenour won - 110 to 68.
"You know what?," she said, "You only live once. You'd better enjoy your life while you have it!"
Four years ago, she and her late husband moved to the area from South Bend, Indiana, so they could be closer to grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who live in the Metroplex.
Mrs. Obenour volunteered at the library and then found a seat on the Park Board, where she quickly rose to chairman.
Now, as mayor, she said her first order of business is to attract a sit-down restaurant and a grocery store.
Her predecessor, Mark Lorance, 42, decided to not run again. He said he wanted to make way for new blood.
"When she told me she was going to run for mayor, she started reading books," Mayor Lorance said. "That was the kind of new blood I was talking about."
Obenour spent less than $500 on her campaign in this town of 1,600.
She purchased four shirts, three large signs, and 14 yard signs.
Voters evidently didn't mind her lack of political experience.
She seemed to sell them on her enthusiasm, which, like her new title, doesn't have an age limit.
Email: jwhitely@wfaa.com
