Cheryl Cox

Cheryl Cox
Mayor Cox (right) presenting Port Commissioner Valderrama with a proclamation in recognition of National Maritime Day
39th Mayor of Chula Vista
In office 2006–2014
Preceded by	Steve Padilla
Succeeded by	Mary Salas
Personal details
Political party	Republican

Cheryl Cox (born 1949) was the mayor of Chula Vista, California from 2006 to 2014. She received both a Master's degree in Political Science and a Doctorate in Education, and moved on to working for Chula Vista Elementary School District as a teacher, principal, and administrator. She is a Republican, and ran for mayor in November 2006 against the incumbent mayor Steve Padilla and Councilman Steve Castaneda, both of whom she beat.

Cox, daughter of retired United States Navy Officer, John Willett. Cox, and her husband of 30 years, San Diego County Supervisor and former Chula Vista Mayor Greg Cox, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Emmie. Both Cheryl and her two daughters have graduated from Chula Vista's Hilltop High School.

Cox received Master's degree in Political Science from San Diego State University and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California. She worked for 30 years as a teacher, principal, and administrator in the Chula Vista Elementary School District; she was also an assistant professor at National University before being elected to the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Trustees in 2000. Dr. Cox was elected the 39th Mayor of Chula Vista, the second largest city in the County of San Diego, in 2006. Currently she is a member of the City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission, Nature Center Board of Trustees and the President of the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Board of Directors. She is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino.