Adela Van Severen

Adela Van Severen de Contreras (1909 – December 9, 2007) was a Salvadoran politician, recognized as the first woman to serve as mayor in all of El Salvador.

[1][2] Born in San Salvador in 1909, Van Severen was educated in the United States.

She then settled in the city of Santa Tecla with her husband, José Luis Contreras, and became involved in municipal politics.

[5][6][7] Women had fully earned the right to vote in El Salvador only five years prior, under the Constitution of 1950.

[5] Van Severen remained in Santa Tecla until her death in 2007, at age 98.