Meet Mayor John Giles

A native of Mesa, John graduated from Mesa Public Schools and attended Brigham Young University where he was on the track team and served as Student Body Finance President. He earned his J.D. at ASU and has practiced law in Mesa for over 30 years. He and his wife Dawn have 5 children and 8 grandchildren.

John has a long history of community and civic engagement in Mesa. In 1996, John was elected to the Mesa City Council serving as Vice Mayor from 1998-2000. Following his service on the City Council, John remained active in the community. He was named “Mesa Man of the Year 2013” in recognition of his years of service on over 25 Boards and Committees in Mesa and the Greater Phoenix area. He currently serves as a volunteer Adjunct Faculty Associate at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law where he teaches classes in Government Law. https://law.asu.edu/faculty/faculty-directory

John is an active runner and cyclist and has completed 4 Boston Marathons and 2 full Ironman competitions. He loves serving as mayor of his hometown. He is building upon the success Mesa has experienced in recent years by continuing to draw new jobs to the city and improve the quality of life for all Mesa residents.    https://www.mesaaz.gov/government/mayor-council/mayor-john-giles

POSITIVE, HONEST, EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP

Mesa Ranks in the Top 20 for Best Run Big Cities in the Nation (Wallethub,2019)

Mayor Giles is a fiscally responsible, accountable leader. The City continually balances the budget and has no primary property tax. Mayor Giles is committed to keeping taxes and utility rates low while continuing to provide quality services. Mesa’s bond rating was recently upgraded and the stadium bonds were paid off early, saving the city $22 million.

Effective Leadership and Compassion

Mayor Giles is helping residents cope with pandemic-related challenges through the Mesa CARES program. The City thoughtfully allocated federal CARES Act dollars to provide distance learning devices for K-6 students, grants to small businesses for rent and utilities, and help for those experiencing food insecurity and housing difficulties.

Creating a Positive Environment for Business

Mayor Giles has attracted new companies to Mesa and created thousands of jobs. As a small business owner himself, he has been fighting for local companies during the pandemic and has gone out of his way to encourage residents to patronize the city’s unique restaurants and businesses. Because of his dedication to bettering Mesa, John Giles has been endorsed by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Education leads to Higher-Paying Careers

Mayor Giles is focused on providing greater educational opportunities and creating a brighter future for our children. He has spearheaded innovative partnerships between the city and philanthropic organizations to make both Pre-K and post-high school education more attainable.

Committed to Thoughtful Growth and Neighborhood Revitalization

Mayor Giles had the vision to revitalize the downtown economy by partnering with ASU to bring a new and innovative college to the heart of Mesa without increasing taxes or utility rates. This, and other Giles-led initiatives, have stimulated additional exciting projects and major investments throughout the city that emphasize strategic partnerships and minimize government financial involvement. The city’s outlay for the project is capped at $63.5 million, with ASU paying the remainder of the costs. The project is paid for through the Economic Development Fund which reinvests income from land sales and permit fees and taxes on large commercial projects back into the city to attract business. Read more about the ASU project here: https://www.johngilesformayor.com/issues

Quality of Life

Mayor Giles was born and raised in Mesa and has practiced law in Downtown Mesa for over 25 years. He and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 37 years and their children and grandchildren still live in Mesa and enjoy our pools, parks, schools, libraries and museums. Mesa’s quality of life is why he lives here. Mayor Giles is committed to keeping Mesa an affordable and safe place to call home for his family and yours.