John Giles (mayor)
John Giles | |
---|---|
40th Mayor of Mesa | |
Assumed office September 18, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Scott Smith Alex Finter (acting) |
Personal details | |
Born | 1959 or 1960 (age 63–64) Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Children | 5 |
Education | Brigham Young University (BA) Arizona State University, Tempe (JD) |
John C. Giles (born 1959/1960) is an American politician serving as the 40th mayor of Mesa, Arizona.[1] A Republican, Giles previously served as a member of the Mesa City Council from 1996 to 2000. Giles was elected mayor of Mesa in a special election following the resignation of then-Mayor Scott Smith. In 2022, Giles was censured by the Arizona Republican Party over his endorsement of Mark Kelly in the 2022 United States Senate election.[2]
Early life and education[edit]
Giles was born in Mesa, Arizona. He graduated from Westwood High School in 1978. He attended Brigham Young University, graduating with a political science degree in 1984. Giles received his Juris Doctor degree from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in 1987.
Career[edit]
Giles works as a lawyer with the firm Giles & Dickson.[3] Giles was the president of the East Valley Bar Association from 1992 until 1993.[4]
He was elected to the Mesa City Council in 1996, serving until 2000, including a term as vice mayor from 1998 until 2000.[5]
Giles is a registered Republican, although the position of mayor is officially nonpartisan. Giles endorsed Democrat Mark Kelly in the 2022 U.S. Senate election.[6]
Mayor of Mesa, Arizona (2014–present)[edit]
Following Mayor Scott Smith's resignation in 2014, Giles was elected mayor in a special election, for a term lasting until 2017.[7] He was sworn in on September 18, 2014.[8][9] In 2016, Giles was reelected to a full four-year term, which is set to last until 2021.[10] Giles began his second full term in January 2021.[11]
As mayor, Giles led the adoption of a city-wide Non Discrimination Ordinance[12] and Climate Action Plan.[13]
Housing Advocacy[edit]
In 2024, Giles was recognized by the Arizona Housing Coalition as the Housing Champion of the Year. [14] The Arizona Housing Coalition said of Mayor Giles, "His tireless efforts have not only reshaped the landscape of Mesa but have also brought housing dreams within reach for countless individuals and families." [15] Under his leadership, Mesa adopted a Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness. [16] The plan includes the City of Mesa's Housing Path to Recovery and Off the Streets Program, which provides temporary housing. [17] In March of 2024, he joined Arizona Mayors in opposition to Arizona state legislation HB 2570, also known as the Arizona Starter Homes Act citing that the bill would "Strictly limit our cities' land planning authority..." and that "silencing our neighborhoods is not the solution to the housing crisis." [18] The legislation proposed to restrict the abilities of Arizona cities from mandating Home Owners Associations, minimum home sizes and community amenities.
Personal life[edit]
Giles and his wife, Dawn, have five children and eight grandchildren.[1] Giles is a marathoner and triathlete who has completed two full Ironman competitions, 20 marathons and four Boston Marathons.[19]
Electoral history[edit]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | John Giles | 53,273 | 99.01% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 353 | 0.99% | |
Total votes | 53,808 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | John Giles | 33,177 | 72.7% | |
Nonpartisan | Danny Ray | 12,483 | 27.3% | |
Total votes | 45,660 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | John Giles | 17,426 | 23.2% | |
Nonpartisan | T. Farrell Jensen | 15,949 | 21.2% | |
Nonpartisan | Dennis Kavanaugh | 13,481 | 17.9% | |
Nonpartisan | Lillian Wilkinson | 10,407 | 13.8% | |
Nonpartisan | Dana B. Harper | 10,053 | 13.4% | |
Nonpartisan | David Molina | 7,831 | 10.4% | |
Total votes | 75,147 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | John Giles | 14,392 | 15.8% | |
Nonpartisan | T. Farrell Jensen | 11,861 | 13.1% | |
Nonpartisan | Lillian Wilkinson | 10,885 | 12.0% | |
Nonpartisan | David Molina | 10,070 | 11.1% | |
Nonpartisan | Dennis Kavanaugh | 9,848 | 10.8% | |
Nonpartisan | Dana B. Harper | 9,635 | 10.6% | |
Nonpartisan | Michael D. Whiting | 9,196 | 10.1% | |
Nonpartisan | Manuel Cortez | 5,873 | 6.5% | |
Nonpartisan | David A. Wier | 5,403 | 6.0% | |
Nonpartisan | John Robie | 6,639 | 4.0% | |
Total votes | 90,802 | 100.0% |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Mayor John Giles | City of Mesa". www.mesaaz.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
- ^ Basnet, Neetish (July 26, 2022). "GOP censures Mesa lawmaker, Mayor Giles". The Mesa Tribune. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ "Mayor John Giles". City of Mesa. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "John C. Giles, Attorney". Giles & Dickson. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Mayor John Giles". City of Mesa, Arizona. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Multiple GOP mayors, business owners backing Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly". KTAR.com. 2022-07-17. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ Brodie, Mark (September 19, 2014). "John Giles Elected Mayor Of Mesa". KJZZ. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Godfrey, Trevor (September 20, 2014). "Mesa mayor Giles officially sworn into office". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Polletta, Maria; Leavitt, Parker (September 19, 2014). "John Giles sworn in as Mesa's 40th mayor". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Mayor John Giles". NDC Academy. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Steinbach, Alison. "Mesa Mayor John Giles leads in reelection bid, while Julie Spilsbury could unseat Councilmember Jeremy Whittaker". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
- ^ "The Arizona Republic". The Arizona Republic. (subscription required)
- ^ "The Arizona Republic". The Arizona Republic. (subscription required)
- ^ "Housing Champion of the Year". Arizona Housing Coalition. 2024.
- ^ "Arizona Housing Coalition Award Winner" (PDF). Az Housing Coalition. 2024.
- ^ "Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness". City of Mesa. 2024.
- ^ "Mesa Housing Path to Recovery and Off the Streets". City of Mesa. 2024.
- ^ "Phoenix-area mayors blast controversial housing bill they say would 'silence our neighborhoods'". Az Central. 2024.
- ^ "Mayor John Giles | City of Mesa". www.mesaaz.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
- ^ "MRC 20160830 E August 30, 2016 Summary Report MARICOPA COUNTYFINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Maricopa County Recorder. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ "Mesa, AZ Mayor - Special Election 2014". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Mesa, AZ City Council At Large 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Mesa, AZ City Council At Large Primary 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
External links[edit]
- Media related to John Giles (politician) at Wikimedia Commons
- John Giles at Ballotpedia
- Campaign website
- Mayoral website Archived 2015-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Appearances on C-SPAN