Born and raised in Mesa, Mayor Giles earned degrees from Brigham Young University in Political Science and Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law where he is now an Adjunct Professor. He practiced law in Mesa for nearly 30 years before working full-time as Mayor. Mayor Giles has completed two full Ironman competitions, 20 marathons and four Boston Marathons. He is the creator and host of the It’s Always Cool in Mesa podcast, which shares the city’s most beloved history, people and stories. Mayor Giles and his wife Dawn have been married for more than 40 years. They have five children and eight grandchildren.
Mayor Giles spearheads the Mesa College Promise which provides qualified high school graduates with a free community college education. His commitment to bridging the digital divide led to City Council opening the market for internet service providers to deliver fiberoptic internet to every home and business in the City of Mesa. He also established Mesa’s Education and Workforce Roundtable and is a member of the Arizona Mayor’s Education Roundtable.
Mayor Giles is Chair of the Immigration Task Force for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and serves on the Board of Trustees. He is the Co-Chair of Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, Chair of the Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, and serves on the Accelerator for America Advisory Council.