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Executive Committee Spotlight: Mayor John Giles, City of Mesa
Name, title & city/town:
John Giles, Mayor, City of Mesa
Year elected to office: 2014
Years served on Executive Committee: New member of the Executive Committee as of November 2014
City of Mesa
Incorporated: 1883
Population: 439,041
Elevation: 1,255 ft.
County: Maricopa
Area within Limits: 139.27 sq. mi
Why did you decide to serve in local government?
I'm a Mesa guy and I love my city. I was born in Mesa, raised my family in Mesa, and started a business in Mesa. I decided to serve on the Mesa Council to help the community
that I love continue moving forward in the right direction and to do everything in my power to help us reach the next level. I'm energized by finding and implementing creative
and innovative ways to provide the services our residents need while improving the overall quality of the Mesa experience. All politics are local, and there is no better way
to positively impact the lives of our residents than through serving in municipal government.
What are the biggest challenges facing your town today?
I'm excited to say that the biggest challenge I see for Mesa in the near future is how best to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities available to our city. Based on
some of the recent successes Mesa has experienced, be they great new jobs and employers, a reinvigorated parks system, extended light rail line, two spring training stadiums and
much, much more, it might be easy for me to say mission accomplished. However, I don't see my mayoral role as caretaker of the status quo, but rather I look for every chance
to build on our accomplishments and continue to make Mesa one of the most sought after cities to live, work, and play.
What opportunities do you see for your community?
There are several great opportunities that currently exist with Mesa. Our downtown is unique in the Valley as it is the only downtown where one can find the combination of historic
old town roots mixed with amenities like a soon-to-be completed modern light rail system and our world class Mesa Arts Center.
We've found ourselves with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn this part of our city into one of the next great mixed use entertainment and residential districts in the
state. In addition, the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and the Elliot Road technology corridor to its north remain one of the best locations in the country to locate or expand
your business. I look forward to more great announcements coming out of these areas in the months and years to come.
What are you most proud of during your time in office?
It's amazing to have been a part of so many great things in Mesa during the short time that I have been mayor. While it's hard for me to pick just one thing to be proud of so far, I
have been very pleased with the support and commitment shown by our community for the One Mesa Pledge. The pledge is Mesa-grown and acknowledges to the world what we in Mesa have
known all along: our city is made up of people from all walks of life, and it is this diversity that is the spirit of our city, fuels our innovation and creativity, and makes Mesa
the great city that it is today. I encourage everyone to check out the pledge for themselves at onemesapledge.org.
Why is the League important to cities and towns in Arizona?
There is strength in numbers, and the League is a tremendous asset in that regard as it provides a unified voice on issues that impact all 91 cities and towns in Arizona. League staff
are extremely knowledgable and are always able to provide great insight into legislation and other issues affecting each of our municipalities. I am grateful for the opportunity to
serve on its Executive Committee and look forward to working together as we continue to show how cities power the economy and are the backbone of our state.
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League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org
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