| Susan Whelchel | |
| Office: | Mayor of Boca Raton, Florida |
| Term Start: | April 2008 |
| Term End: | March 31, 2014 |
| Predecessor: | Steven L. Abrams |
| Successor: | Susan Haynie |
| Birth Date: | 13 August 1944 |
| Birth Place: | Baxley, Georgia, U.S. |
| Spouse: | John Whelchel |
| Children: | 4 |
| Party: | Republican |
Susan Whelchel (August 13, 1944 – August 5, 2022) was an American politician and teacher. She served two terms as the Mayor of the city of Boca Raton, Florida, from 2008 until 2014.[1] [2]
Whelchel received a Bachelor of Science from Jacksonville University. She was a former teacher.[1] Before becoming mayor, Whelchel served on the Boca Raton city council, a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency, and a member of the local school board.[1]
Whelchel was elected Mayor of Boca Raton in 2008 unopposed, succeeding outgoing Mayor Steven L. Abrams, who was term limited.[1] She took office in April 2008.[3] The 2008 mayoral election marked the first time that a candidate had run unopposed for mayor since 1978, when Boca Raton voters began electing their mayor directly.[4]
Initially, it appeared that Whelchel would again run for re-election unopposed in 2011, but a second candidate, Linda Spurling Gruneisen, filed to run just before the deadline.[1] Whelchel defeated Spurling Gruneisen by a nine to one margin in the mayoral election held on March 8, 2011, to win a second, three-year term.[1] [2] Whelchel received 3,903 votes (85.37%), while Spurling Gruneisen garnered 669 votes (14.63%).[5]
Under Whelchel, Boca Raton installed red light cameras, as well as the city's first parking meters.[1] In addition, she advocated for the use of green technology in building construction,[1] opposed tax increases, and advocated for cuts to city spending.[1] During her second term, Whelchel promised to focus on job creation and the revitalization of downtown Boca Raton.[2]
Whelchel, who was term limited and ineligible to run for mayor again, left office in March 2014. She was succeeded by then-Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie.
Whelchel died from Alzheimer's disease on August 5, 2022, at the age of 77.[6]