Phil Gordon (politician)

Infobox_Governor
name= Phil Gordon


imagesize=121px
caption=Phil Gordon
order= Current
office= Mayor of Phoenix
term_start= January 2, 2004
term_end=
predecessor= Skip Rimsza
successor= Incumbent
birth_date= April 18 1951
birth_place= Chicago, Illinois
death_date=
death_place=
spouse=
profession=Politician
party= Democrat

Phil Gordon (born April 18, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American Democratic party politician, and the 51st and current mayor of Phoenix, Arizona. He was sworn in as mayor on January 2, 2004.

Born to Sidney and Judy Gordon, he is the oldest of three children. In 1960, the Gordon family moved to Phoenix where Phil attended Madison Meadows Elementary and Middle School and Central High School. He attended the University of Arizona and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. After earning his undergraduate degree, Gordon entered Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

Gordon has had worked in a variety of professions, including as a school teacher, lawyer, business owner, chairman of Landiscor Aerial Photography Company, as well serving on the Madison School Board.

After serving as chief of staff to a former Phoenix Mayor in 1996, Gordon's interest in Phoenix became his incentive to seek public office. Pledging to fight crime and preserve neighborhoods, he entered the race for Phoenix City Council and was elected in 1997 and 2001. Fact|date=September 2007

The former city councilman was elected mayor in the non-partisan mayoral race on September 9, 2003, garnering 72 percent of the vote, and re-elected on September 11, 2007, with 77 percent of the vote. [ [http://phoenix.gov/ELECTION/summ0903.html SUMMARY OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL ELECTION SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 ] ] [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/09/10/daily25.html?surround=lfn Phoenix Business Journal, September 2007] ] [ [http://www.topix.com/phoenix/2007/09/gordon-sweeps-mayors-race-sales-tax-increase-passes Gordon sweeps mayor's race, sales tax increase passes - Topix ] ]

During his tenure at Phoenix City Hall, Gordon has focused heavily on revitalizing downtown Phoenix. He and other members of the Phoenix City Council have put more than $1 billion into the city's core, [ [http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0929cityscape0929.html Arizona Republic, Sept. 2006] ] [ [http://www.coppersquare.com/about/news/556/ About Copper Square: Recent News ] ] investing in projects such as the revitalization of the Phoenix Convention Center, the construction of a new $350 million Sheraton hotel, [ [http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special48/articles/0208downtowndistrict0208.html Arizona Republic, February 2007 "Filling a Void: Big-ticket projects (in downtown) include a new Arizona State University campus, a University of Arizona medical school, light rail, a $600 million-plus expansion of the Phoenix Convention Center and a new $350 million Sheraton hotel.] ] and the creation of a downtown Arizona State University campus. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special33/articles/0818ext-asu0818Z3.html Arizona Republic, August 2006] ]

Gordon has also been a staunch backer of a planned $1.1 billion multi-modal transportation system which was approved by 65 percent of Phoenix voters in March, 2000. [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/12/06/daily39.html?jst=b_ln_hl Phoenix Business Journal] ] a project that has faced criticism. [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/12/06/newscolumn1.html Phoenix Business Journal, December 2004] ] [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2005/01/31/daily51.html Phoenix Business Journal, Feb. 2005] ] Most recently, the Mayor has engaged in a verbal dispute with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio over issues related to illegal immigration. [ [http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/04/17/20080417miranda0417-ON.html Arizona Republic, April 2008] ] [ [http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=810888 KTAR, April 2008] ]

Recall Effort

Gordon had a petition circulating in Phoenix to recall him in 2008. The petition was set up by a group calling itself American Citizens United (ACU). ACU did not the reach the 24,000 minimum for the recall by August 28, 2008. The group cited insufficient volunteers and too few returned petitions as reasons for failing to accumulate the required minimum number of 24,000 signed petitions. The group will be able to launch another recall effort in the future. [http://kfyi.com/pages/local_news.html?feed=118695&article=4163157]

ee also

*List of mayors of Phoenix, Arizona

References

External links

* [http://mayorgordon.com Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's official website]
* [http://www.philgordon.org Phil Gordon for Mayor official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/philgordonformayor Phil Gordon official MySpace.com page]
* [http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/phoenix-mayor.html CityMayors profile]