Sandra W. Freedman (born September 21, 1943, in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

. She was the first female

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

and after completing a term for

Bob Martinez Robert Martinez (born December 25, 1934) is an American retired politician who served as the 40th governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. A member of the Republican Party, Martinez was the first person of Spanish descent to be elected governor o ...

was elected to two terms. Freedman graduated with a degree in government from the University of Miami. She married Michael J. Freedman, an attorney, and the couple has three children. She was also the chairman of the Board of the National Civic League from 2008 to 2011. She served on the

City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

from 1974 and then as Council Chair from 1983 through July 16, 1986. She completed the remaining term of

who resigned to successfully campaign for Governor of

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. After completing the remainder of Martinez's term, Freedman was twice elected Mayor of

Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...

External links

City of Tampa biography pageTampa Mayor Sandy Freedman Oral History Project
at th
University of South Florida
1943 births Living people Politicians from Newark, New Jersey University of Miami alumni Florida city council members Women city councillors in Florida Mayors of Tampa, Florida Women mayors of places in Florida 21st-century American women {{Florida-mayor-stub